Powerful M8.2 quake strikes waters near Fiji, but very deep

A massive magnitude 8.2 quake struck in the Pacific Ocean close to Fiji and Tonga on Sunday but was too deep to pose a tsunami risk.

The quake was 559.57 km below the Earth which would have dampened the shaking at the surface.

The US Tsunami Warning Center said the quake was too deep to cause a tsunami.

The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 7.9 and then upgraded to 8.2, a magnitude that could cause tremendous damage had it not been so deep.

The epicenter was located 270 km east of Levuka in Fiji and 443 kmwest of Neiafu in Tonga.

The area is located on the earthquake-prone Ring of Fire.

Source(s): Reuters