Earthquake strikes Pacific Ocean

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean today, the Hong Kong Observatory said.

It was not immediately clear if there were casualties, damage or any tsunami warning.

The quake, recorded in Hong Kong at 12.45 Irish time, was centred about 260 miles north-north-east of Saipan island.

The Hong Kong Observatory routinely monitors seismic activity.