Strong earthquake hits off Fiji; tsunami alert lifted

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.