A series of strong magnitude-6 earthquakes have struck between Samoa and Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.
USGS said the first quake had a magnitude of 6.4 and a depth of 11 kilometers, striking 109 kilometers northeast of Tonga's Hihifo district Monday night. It was followed 30 minutes later by a magnitude-6.5 quake that had a depth of 15 kilometers and struck 99 kilometers northeast of Hihifo.
According to AP, Leveni Aho, Director of Tonga's National Emergency Management Office, said his staff was trying to make contact with officials on the islands near the epicenter, but had not received any reports of damage. No tremors were felt on Tonga's main island, he said. “I think if there was anything significant, it would have been reported by now,” Aho said.
Police in Samoa and Tonga told news agency Reuters there were no reports of damage. Moreover, there was no tsunami threat from the earthquakes. The new quakes came just hours after amajor magnitude-7.5 quake tremor rattled nearby Papua New Guinea.
Earthquakes are common in the region, which lies on the "Ring of Fire" — an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/strong-earthquakes-south-pacific