SUVA, March 8 -- A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck off Tonga and its neighboring country of Samoa on Tuesday, the United StatesGeological Survey (USGS) said.

The epicenter of the quake that struck from a depth of 29.8 kilometers at 6:36 p.m. local time (0536 GMT) was traced 96 kilometers northeast of Tonga's Hihifo, or 229 kilometers southwest of Samoa's capital of Apia, according to the USGS.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not immediately issue a tsunami warning, watch or advisory.

There was no immediate report of casualty or damage.

Pacific island countries including Tonga and Samoa lie on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones where continental plates collide producing frequent seismic activities.