Strong but deep earthquake hits off Fiji, no tsunami alert

Strong but deep earthquake hits off Fiji, no tsunami alert

2011-04-03 21:33:16 GMT+7 (ICT)

TUVUCA, FIJI (BNO NEWS) -- A strong but deep earthquake struck the South Pacific Ocean on early Monday morning, not far from a small island belonging to Fiji, seismologists said. No tsunami warnings were issued and there were no reports of damage or casualties.

The 6.2-magnitude earthquake at 2.07 a.m. local time (1407 GMT Sunday) was centered about 17 kilometers (11 miles) east of Tuvuca, a small island off Vanua Balavu in Fiji's Lau archipelago with only a small population. It struck about 530.6 kilometers (329.7 miles) below the ocean, making it a deep earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS estimated that around 124,000 people in the region may have noticed very weak shaking, but said no damage was to be expected. "There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage," the agency said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning as the earthquake was located too deep and was not strong enough to generate tsunami waves.

On Thursday afternoon, a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck near the Fiji island of Wailagi Lala at a depth of only 23.7 kilometers (14.7 miles). There were no reports of damage or casualties.

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