(AP) A strong earthquake struck off Canada's west coast early Thursday near Vancouver Island. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.

The epicenter of the magnitude-6.1 quake was 97 miles west of Port Hardy and 293 miles west northwest of Vancouver, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It struck at a depth of about 6 miles.

Geological Survey of Canada scientist Garry Rogers said there were no reports of injuries or damages and said it occurred too far off land for there to be any. He said it's normal activity for the region and there's nothing to be alarmed about.

The quake was the latest in a series of coastal tremors since Monday. Two quakes rattled the area Wednesday, both with magnitudes of around 5. There have been 18 quakes with a magnitude greater than four in the region this week.

Seismologists said the tremors are occurring in a "seismically active" region, and they are too far offshore to be felt on land and too small to generate a tsunami.

"Rarely a day goes by where we don't have an earthquake. Once a year we have a swarm in the high fours, maybe a five. Once a decade we have a six," Rogers said. "It's one of the most busiest earthquake areas in the world."

Rogers said new ocean crust is forming in the area and that's why it's so active geologically.

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