A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 hit Hawaii early Sunday morning, local TV MSNBC reported.

The report said the quake hit the Big Island of Hawaii but no casualties or damage so far are available.

Local authorities said local electricity and telephone lines had been cut off, but no warning against a possible tsunami had been issued.

The U.S. Geological Survey also reported several aftershocks, including one measuring a magnitude of 5.8.

The quake occurred at 7:07 a.m. (1607 GMT) local time, 10 miles(16 km) northwest of Kailua Kona, a town on the west coast of the Big Island, about 155 miles (250 km) to the southeast of Honolulu,the state capital, in Oahu, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said there was no risk of a Pacific-wide tsunami, but a possibility of significant wave activity in Hawaii.

People wait in line for food at a roadside chicken stand in Kihei, Hawaii, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006, after an earthquake struck the big island of Hawaii knocking out power and forcing restaurants and other merchants to close.(Xinhua Photo)

 
People wait at Honolulu International airport, Sunday, Oct 15, 2006, after an earthquake shook Hawaii. Power at least partially knocked out on every island, said Civil Defense spokesman Lani Goldman. Airports were functioning despite the power outages, though slowly. (Xinhua Photo)

Editor: Yan