Earthquake strikes the South Pacific island of Tonga – no injures or damage

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook the South Pacific nation of Tonga, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injury, police said Thursday. The quake occurred late Wednesday and was centered under the sea 115 kilometers (75 miles) northeast of the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa, at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), said the U.S. Geological Survey data center in Denver, Colorado.

Residents in the capital felt the ground sway at 11:07 p.m. local time Wednesday (11.07 GMT), and said it lasted for about 30 seconds. "It wasn't a big jolt, just a swaying motion that happened as people were going to bed," resident Mary Fonua said. There were no reports of a tsunami triggered by the undersea shake, and no tsunami alert issued by the Pacific tsunami warning center based in Hawaii, reports the AP. I.L.