Two earthquakes shake Tonga

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A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Tonga early today, a minute after a moderate 5.5-magnitude quake shook the same area, AFP reported.

There was no tsunami warning and a low likelihood of any casualties or damage in the remote area, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The smaller quake hit at 1:01am 140km northeast of the South Pacific nation's capital Nuku'Alofa, at a depth of 23km, the USGS said.

A minute later the 6.1-magnitude quake struck, 152km from Nuku'Alofa at a depth of nine km. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Tonga, almost 2000km northeast of New Zealand, lies on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where continental plates collide causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity.

Nine people died in Tonga in an earthquake-triggered tsunami in October 2009 that also killed 143 people in Samoa.