The Chinese embassy in Tonga has expressed sympathy to earthquake-affected Chinese in this country, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry Tuesday.

The ministry said that no Chinese citizens where killed by a very strong earthquake near the Pacific Island nation of Tonga, however, there are some damage to property of local Chinese.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 155 km south of the island of Neiafu and north-east of the capital, Nuku'alofa.

It struck at 0426 local time (1526 GMT), the USGS said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for all coastal areas and islands in the Pacific but canceled it several hours later.

Source: Xinhua