HONG KONG (AFP) - A major earthquake was recorded in the south Pacific early on Sunday, about 140km north-east of Fiji's Ndoi Island, the US Geological Survey said.

The 7.1-magnitude quake, which hit at 6.57am local time (2.57am Singapore time), registered at a depth of 434km.

No tsunami warning was issued, according to the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.

Fiji is located in the so-called Ring of Fire area of the Pacific Ocean basin, where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Last month, a 7.2-magnitude quake struck some 570km south of Easter Island.