Moscow, March 25: A 7.5-magnitude quake hit off Russia's Kuril Islands on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said. The quake hit at a depth of 59 kilometres (37 miles), around 1,400 kilometres (around 850 miles) northeast of the Japanese city of Sapporo, USGS added.

The US National Tsunami Warning Center said it was "analyzing the event to determine the level of danger".

"This earthquake has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami in the source region," it added.

The four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain -- Habomai, Shikotan, Etorofu and Kunashiri -- have been disputed between Moscow and Tokyo since the end of World War II.

The Kurils are known as the Northern Territories in Japan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 25, 2020 09:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).