The world's strongest earthquake in four years jolted this United States territory today, shaking cars from bridges as tourists fled damaged hotels.

No deaths were reported on the west Pacific island, and there were few serious injuries.

Betty Marie Bolton, a receptionist at the Guam Hilton, said she was sitting at her desk when she heard a loud noise.

"Then I started feeling the earth move and shake," she recalled. "I ran out of the hotel into the street. I thought I was going to be swallowed up."

The earthquake lasted about a minute, she said.

The Hilton suffered structural damage and guests were evacuated, Ms. Bolton said. Some other hotels also had to be evacuated because of structural damage.