Staff at Fiji's Red Cross in Suva have been evacuated.

Much of Fiji is without power following a powerful quake early Wednesday, Radio NZ reports.



The Fiji Electricity Authority told RNZ that about half of Fiji's largest island, including the capital, was currently experiencing a power cut.

@nzhippygirl @geonet tsunami warning has just been cancelled n no major damage happened jst power blackout in some areas. All's Good#Fiji — $hayal Chandr@ (@Shayal_96) January 4, 2017

There was no time frame for when it would be restored.



The blackout comes after a tsunami threat to Fiji was cancelled, shortly after a powerful earthquake struck off the South Pacific island nation.



The shallow quake hit 227 km southwest of Fiji's capital, Suva, and was originally recorded with a magnitude of 7.2 but has been downgraded to 6.9.



It was 10km deep and struck about 10.53am Wednesday morning.

SUPPLIED The location of the quake.

There were no initial reports of widespread casualties or damage, but many fearful coastal residents in Fiji evacuated to higher ground.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially declared the tsunami threat, which had since passed.

"There is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake," the organisation reported.

HALITESH DATT/SUPPLIED People in Suva head for safe ground after a M7 earthquake.

"Remain observant and exercise normal caution near the sea. Otherwise... no action is required.

"Minor sea level fluctuations may occur in some coastal areas near the earthquake over the next few hours."

The initial tsunami warning prompted evacuations across Fiji's main island.

HALITESH DATT/SUPPLIED Locals evacuate, to escape a potential tsunami.

A Fiji Sun reporter in Nadi, on the west-coast, said people immediately started to evacuate the city after the earthquake.

Radio broadcasts warned that a tsunami could hit within an hour of the quake, she said.

Speaking from Fiji's capital city, Suva, journalist Halitesh Datt​ said companies had ordered their buildings closed until the threat of a tsunami cleared.

Office workers were clearing the city and heading to higher ground, he said.

"What I'm seeing is just streams and streams of people walking uphill," said Corrine Ambler, who is in Suva with the International Federation of Red Cross.

"There's just a traffic jam, a whole pile of cars trying to get out of town.

"Everyone's taking it pretty seriously."

There was no sign of damage in Suva or Nadi.

Thanks for everyone's concern - am okay, didn't feel anything in Nadi & currently all quiet except the birds, no warning sirens. #fiji — Juliette Sivertsen (@j_sivertsen) January 3, 2017

Tsunami madness pic.twitter.com/9fSS0VUeXf — Elenoa Masi Baselala (@ElleMasi) January 3, 2017

The initial jolt alarmed many members of the public.

At the Fiji Sun office at Walu Bay, staff felt desks and computers shaking for a good 10-15 seconds.

It alarmed the public in the Sigatoka market, too, the Fiji Times reported.

Market vendor Deo Narayan said chairs were shaking.

"We are alarmed and want to go home but we're waiting for word from the market master or somebody," he told the Fiji Times.

NZ Civil Defence quickly announced there was no tsunami threat to New Zealand, shortly after the quake.