WASHINGTON (AFP) - A 7.4-magnitude quake shook the southern Atlantic Ocean early Friday, the US Geological Survey said, with an epicenter 316km from islands hosting a British Antarctic research station.

There was no immediate tsunami warning following the quake. The USGS reported at least five aftershocks.

The quake struck at 5.32 am local time (3.32pm Singapore time) at a depth of 10km.

It was centered east-southeast of the remote British-administered South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, which are about 1,000km east of the Falkland Islands.

The islands are home to two British Antarctic Survey stations that together hold up to 32 researchers, the survey's website said.