By Recep Sakar
MELBOURNE, Australia (AA) - A tsunami alert issued after a strong earthquake hit off the Pacific island nation of Fiji has been lifted.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the temblor with a magnitude of 6.9 struck 284 kilometers (177 miles) southwest of the capital Suva at a shallow depth of 17 km Wednesday morning.
There were no reports of casualties or damage.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert but later lifted it.
Fiji lies within the Pacific’s "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and cause frequent seismic and volcanic activity.