MOSCOW, October 8 (RIA Novosti) - A powerful earthquake hit the southwest of the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, U.S. media said, citing the U.S. Geological Survey.

The epicenter of the quake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, was 278 kilometers from the coast of Vanuatu Island at a depth of 35 kilometers. There are no reports of deaths, injures or damage.

Last week a powerful tsunami, caused by an 8.3-magnitude earthquake in the southern Pacific Ocean, hit the remote islands of American and Western Samoa, claiming at least 149 lives.

Earlier on Thursday a series of quakes led to tsunami warnings in the region. The warning was quickly retracted.