6.6 quake hits off east coast of Russia

A magnitude 6.6 quake has hit off the Kamchatka Peninsula on Russia's east coast, with experts saying local tsunamis are possible.

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of far eastern Russia, the US Geological Survey reports.

It said the quake hit about 170 kilometres off the Kamchatka Peninsula, at a depth of 47 kilometres, on Tuesday.

No tsunami was expected along the US west coast, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

But local tsunamis along coasts within 100km of the epicentre are possible.

The quake hit at 1600 AEDT, the USGS said.