Magnitude 4.4 earthquake recorded near Matua Island

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred in the Pacific near the northern Kuril Islands on the morning of October 20, the Sakhalin branch of Russia's Unified Geophysical Service told Interfax.

The epicentre was 67 km east of uninhabited Matua Island, with a depth of 136 km. The earthquake was recorded at 08:43 local time, or 00:43 Moscow time.

The branch said the tremor was not felt in settlements on the Kuril Islands. No tsunami alert was issued.