WAILAGI LALA, FIJI (BNO NEWS) -- A strong earthquake struck the South Pacific Ocean on early Thursday afternoon, not far from an island part of Fiji, seismologists said. No tsunami warnings were issued.

The 6.4-magnitude earthquake at 12.11 p.m. local time (0011 GMT) was centered about 130 kilometers (80 miles) east of Wailagi Lala, the northernmost outpost of Fiji's Lau Islands with no known population. It struck about 23.7 kilometers (14.7 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 people in the region may have noticed weak to light shaking, but said no damage was to be expected. "There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage," the agency said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning.

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