SYDNEY
(AP) -- A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Fiji on
Wednesday, prompting a brief tsunami warning for the Pacific island
nation. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The
magnitude 7.2 quake, which hit at 9:52 a.m. local time, struck about
220 kilometers (135 miles) southwest of the tourist hub of Nadi, the
U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake was a relatively shallow 15
kilometers (9 miles) deep. Shallower quakes generally cause more damage
than ones that strike deeper.
The Pacific
Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for coastlines within
300 kilometers (190 miles) of the epicenter, then lifted the warning
about an hour later. A tsunami of just 1 centimeter (less than an inch)
was observed in the capital of Suva, the center said.
Fiji's
Principal Disaster Management Officer, Sunia Ratulevu, said there had
been no reports of damage or injuries from the quake, and no unusual
wave activity had been reported. The quake struck far offshore and was
not felt in Suva or Nadi, he said.
When the
tsunami alert was issued, people in Suva fled their offices and headed
inland, Ratulevu said. But by early afternoon, authorities were telling
people the threat had passed and it was safe to return to work.
Fiji is prone to earthquakes because of its location on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean.
