SAIPAN:  An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 hit the Mariana Islands region Sunday, continuing a series of strong aftershocks 24 hours after a 7.2 tremor, US geologists said.

There have been 10 quakes of magnitude 5.0 or stronger since the powerful quake on Saturday morning but all were in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean and well away from populated areas.

The latest quake struck at 9:01am (2301 GMT Saturday) at a depth of 22.5 kilometres (14 miles) and centred 570 kilometres from the Northern Marianas capital Saipan, the US Geological Survey said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no indication of any widespread tsunami threat.

BDST: 0945 HRS, August 15, 2010