A 6.1 magnitude earthquake shook northern Peru Monday, causing alarm but no damage or casualties, authorities said.

The quake struck at 4:49 am (0949 GMT) in the Pacific Ocean 93 kilometers (57 miles) west of the coastal city of Paita at a depth of 17 kilometers (10 miles), the Geophysical Institute of Peru said.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had an intensity of 6.1 on the Moment magnitude scale. Peruvian seismologists measured it at 5.8 on the Richter scale.

Peru's civil defense agency said the quake caused no casualties or damage.

Medium intensity quakes are common in Peru, which is located on the Pacific basin's so-called "ring of fire," with 130 reported this year.

6.3-magnitude quake strikes off Indonesia: USGS
Jakarta, Indonesia (AFP) Aug 12, 2013 - A 6.3-magnitude quake struck off eastern Indonesia on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake struck at a depth of 92 kilometres (57 miles), 189 kilometres west-northwest of Saumlaki in the Maluku chain of islands, said the USGS.

Sutiono, an official at Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency who goes by one name, told AFP: "The quake's epicentre was in the sea but there's no potential for a tsunami."

A receptionist at the Galaxy Hotel in Saumlaki, Enik Aryesam, said the tremor lasted around 10 seconds but caused no visible damage.

"It wasn't very strong, so our guests didn't panic," she said.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

6.0 magnitude quake off New Zealand: USGS
Wellington (AFP) Aug 12, 2013 - A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit off New Zealand on Monday, but seismologists said it was unlikely to result in damage in the remote area.

The US Geological Survey said the tremor in the Kermadec Islands region north of New Zealand, which struck at about 0416 GMT, was estimated to be at a depth of 325 kilometres (200 miles) and about 112 kilometres from the nearest populated area at L'Esperance Rock.

Geoscience Australia said the quake, which was about 866 kilometres from the New Zealand city of Auckland, was common in the region and unlikely to cause damage.

"It's quite normal to have this size quake there," duty seismologist Hugh Glanville said.