BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- A 6.9-magnitude earthquake jolted the Mariana Islands at 8:32 a.m. Beijing Time Tuesday, said the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter, with a depth of 590 km, was monitored at 18.8 degrees north latitude and 145.3 degrees east longitude, the center said in a formal statement.

Earlier, the center said a preliminary survey showed it was a 6.5-magnitude quake.