Magnitude 7.1 quake occurs near Guam

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 quake occurred in the Pacific Ocean near the island of Guam, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Sunday. No injuries, damage or tsunami were immediately reported. The Hong Kong Observatory said the epicenter was initially determined to be about 350 kilometers (220 miles) south-southeast of Guam. The Japanese agency said the quake was centered near Guam, a US territory, and occurred at 11:09 a.m. Japan time (0209GMT). It said the information on the epicenter was provided by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center or PTWC in Honolulu, Hawaii. Japan's agency did not issue an official tsunami warning, but said there may be a chance of one near the epicenter. However, a PTWC official said the quake probably did not create a tsunami, and the center had not received any reports of one.