7.1-magnitude quake hits off Fiji

HONG KONG - A major earthquake was recorded in the south Pacific early Sunday, about 140 kilometres (88 miles) northeast of Fiji's Ndoi Island, the US Geological Survey said.

The 7.1-magnitude quake, which hit at 6:57 am local time (18:57 GMT Saturday), registered at a depth of 434 kilometres (270 miles).

No tsunami warning was issued, according to the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Fiji is located in the so-called Ring of Fire area of the Pacific Ocean basin, where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Last month, a 7.2-magnitude quake struck some 570 kilometres south of Easter Island.