6.9-magnitude quake hits Tonga

SUVA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 jolted 72 km West of Pangai, Tonga, at 12:29 local time (0029) on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
There were no immediate reports of casualty or damage.
The epicenter, with a depth of 106.7 km, was determined to be at 19.755 degrees south latitude and 175.041 degrees west longitude, according to the USGS.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not immediately issue a tsunami warning based on the quake.
Pacific island countries such as Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu lie on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones where continental plates collide producing frequent seismic activities. ■