SAN FRANCISCO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit Friday off Alaska's Aleutian Islands, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake took place at 12:24:47 local time (22:24:47 UTC).

The epicenter of the event, although strong and shallow, at a depth of 4.3 kilometers, was in the Bering Sea about 205 kilometers northwest of Attu Station, in the Aleutians West Census Area.

As the island had a population of 21, consisting entirely of coast guard personnel, according to the 2010 U.S. census, the USGS estimated both potential fatalities and economic losses to be unlikely.