Beijing, Nov 9 (IANS) A strong earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale jolted the Fiji islands in the Pacific ocean Monday, the National Seismological Network of China said.

The quake occurred at 6.44 p.m., and the epicentre was located at 17.1 degrees south latitude and 178.5 degrees east longitude at a depth of 540 km, Xinhua reported.

No further details were immediately available.