Strong magnitude 6.2 quake hits south of Tonga

WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) A strong 6.2 magnitude quake struck about 6 miles (10 km) beneath the ocean south of Tonga, the US Geological Survey said on Sunday, but no threat of a tsunami was seen.

The quake, which occurred about 0150 hrs Tonga time on Monday (0720 hrs ist), was about 270 km south of Nuku'Alofa, the capital of the South Pacific island nation. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning, saying the quake was ''small and deep.'' A magnitude 6 quake is capable of causing severe damage.

Reuters DKA GC0926