TOKYO: An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale hit the Pacific island of Guam and its vicinity on Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The epicentre of the quake, which occurred at around 0739 IST, was in the southern part of the Mariana Islands, the agency said in a statement.

"There is the possibility of tsunami waves occuring in the vicinity of the focus of the earthquake," the statement said.