A strong earthquake measuring 7. 1 on the Richter scale struck a remote area of the South Pacific Ocean, 195 km east of the island nation of Tonga on Sunday, the U. S. Geological Survey said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The quake, occurred at 6:10 p.m. local time (0510 GMT Sunday) and was at a depth of 42 km.

Radio New Zealand quoted a newspaper reporter in Tonga said that buildings in capital Nuku'alofa shook for about two minutes during the quake.

No tsunami warning had been issued by the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2008)