Quakes near Guam cause no damage

HAGATNA, Guam » A flurry of earthquakes as powerful as magnitude 6.6 have struck in the Pacific Ocean off Guam, hours after a large temblor hit the region.

The quakes yesterday and early today were centered 230 miles south of Guam, the same area as the powerful 7.2-magnitude quake that hit earlier yesterday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In addition to the 6.6 temblor — which shook the area at about 9 a.m. local time today — aftershocks hit with magnitudes of 4.6, 4.7, 5.0, 5.2 and 6.3. None posed a tsunami threat, officials said.

Authorities on Guam and the nearby Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands said that quake caused no damage.

USGS geophysicist Randy Baldwin said such aftershocks are normal following a large quake.

Guam is 3,700 miles southwest of Hawaii.