Strong underwater earthquake near Fiji

SYDNEY: A strong earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.1 struck on Friday near the Pacific island of Fiji, Australian officials said.  

Geoscience Australia said the quake hit about 300 kilometres  northeast of the Fijian capital Suva, Geoscience Australia said.   

The US Geological Survey earlier described the epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 0558 GMT, as 563 kilometres (350 miles) northwest of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.   

No reports of casualties or damage were immediately available but Spiro Spiliopoulos, a seismologist with Geoscience Australia, said the underwater earthquake was not considered dangerous.   

"It's too deep and too small to cause a tsunami," he told AFP.  "It's a very active area. We see these quite often."   

A second quake with an estimated magnitude of 5.6 struck 305 kilometres west of the Tongan town of Neiafu at 1040 GMT on Friday, the US Geological Survey said later.   

Spiliopoulos, who was speaking before the second quake, said earthquakes were a common occurrence in what is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.