PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, February 7 (Itar-Tass) - An earthquake measuring 5.7 points on the open-ended Richter scale has occurred in the Kamchatka Strait off the Kamchatka Peninsula’s eastern shores, a duty officer at the regional branch of the Emergency Situations Ministry said.

Experts at the Kamchatka experimental bureau of seismic methodology said the earthquake was registered at 08:51 Moscow time [05:51 GMT] Monday. Its epicenter was located at the depth of five kilometers under the seabed.

The power of quakes felt in the nearest town of Ust-Kamchatsk, 90 kilometers away from the place, did not exceed 2 points or 3 points on the Richter scale.

No tremors were felt in the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky lying at a distance of 500 kilometers to the northeast of the place.

Despite the quake, the regional administration has lifted high-alert regulations introduced last August on apprehensions that a major earthquake might be forthcoming.

Emergency services have returned into a normal mode of operations now, since experts do not expect quakes with a magnitude of 7.5 or more points on the Richter scale.