SINGAPORE (REUTERS) - A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit about 100 miles (161 kilometres) north-northwest of Visokoi Island in the South Sandwich Islands off South America, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake's depth was measured at 9.1 miles (15 kilometres) deep.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said that based on historical data, the threat of a widespread destructive tsunami did not exist.