Strong 6.3 quake strikes off Australian Antarctic base

Sydney: A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck today southwest of remote Macquarie Island where Australia maintains a small Antarctic base, officials said, but no injuries or damage were reported.

The tremor hit at a depth of 10 kilometres some 29 kilometres from the island, which lies in the Pacific Ocean about half-way between Australia and Antarctica, the US Geological Survey said.

"We have been in touch with the base and they did feel it, but only slightly. They're all fine and there is no damage," an Australian Antarctic Division spokeswoman told AFP.

No tsunami warning was issued.

Macquarie Island, which is 34 kilometres long and just five kilometres wide, hosts the permanent Antarctic base on a narrow, windswept strip of land.

The number of expeditioners on site varies from 14 to 40 depending on the season or research projects being undertaken.