Two high-magnitude earthquakes have hit different parts of the Pacific Ocean, the Auckland Islands, south of New Zealand and the US territory of Guam on Sunday.

Quakes hit N Zealand, Guam - 30 / 09 / 2007 10:34

A 7.4 magnitude quake struck at 0525 GMT south of New Zealand's South Island, with no reports of injuries. *

The quake occurred at around 6:24 p.m. local time, about 350 km off the sparsely populated west coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Japan's Meteorological Agency put the quake's magnitude at 7.4, while Geoscience Australia said it was 7.6.

Earlier on Sunday, the US territory of Guam was shaken by a strong earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.1 swayed buildings on the Pacific island of Guam, but there were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami alert was issued.

 The US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said neither quake was likely to cause a destructive tsunami.

The Guam quake, which hit at 0209 GMT, was given a 7.1 magnitude by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Officials at the US Geological Survey said it had a magnitude of 6.8. Its epicentre, some 30km (19 miles) deep, was in the southern part of the Mariana Islands, the Japanese agency said.

There were no reports of injuries or damage on the US territory.

Reuters / BBC