Quake hits Tonga

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit near the South Pacific archipelago of Tonga but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit near the South Pacific archipelago of Tonga on Wednesday but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, the US Geological Survey said.

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The quake hit at 0911 GMT and was centred 256 kilometres (159 miles) northeast of the Tongan town of Neiafu at a depth of 74 kilometres, the USGS said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii did not issue a tsunami alert.

The quake occurred near fault lines in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates in the earth's crust meet and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.