Fiji Islands rocked by strong earthquake

SUVA, Fiji, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A strong earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred Sunday near the Fiji Islands and may have been felt as far away as New Zealand.

China's official Xinhua news agency said that the quake occurred at a depth of 92.7 miles in the Pacific Ocean, just south of the Fiji Islands, but no tsunami warnings have been issued in the region.

Since the earthquake occurred, no reports of any significant damage have been reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo., said the quake registered 7.8 on the open-ended Richter Scale and took place in one of the world's deepest ocean areas.

That region has been a highly active seismic area, the news agency reported.