Russia sees no damage from Bering Sea quakes

July 18 (UPI) -- No major damage or casualties were reported in the far eastern regions of Russia following a major earthquake in the Bering Sea, the government said.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude-7.7 earthquake early Tuesday afternoon local time in the Bering Sea. A series of tremors, some of which were stronger than magnitude-5, were reported in the aftermath.

The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations said in a statement carried by the Tass news agency that no major damage was recorded on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

"Emergency teams have ended work to examine buildings and constructions in the settlements of the Kamchatka region where the quake that occurred in the afternoon of July 18 was felt," the press service said. "No casualties or destruction were reported in the quake."

Russian energy company Gazprom operates four onshore natural gas and condensate fields on the peninsula and is exploring the opportunities for production in the Sea of Okhostk, off the western coast of Kamchatka.

"Natural gas will play an important role in the socio-economic development of those regions not only through the gasification of population centers, but also thanks to the creation of modern gas processing and petrochemical facilities," Gazprom explained.

Russian oil company Rosneft is working alongside the Korea National Oil Corp. on reserves on the western Kamchatka shelf. The state-owned Russian oil company said the reserves at Kamchatka rival some of the more lucrative assets in the national energy portfolio.

Russian companies are working to expand their energy markets for the Asian economies in part through deliveries of liquefied natural gas.