Powerful quake hits New Zealand's Kermadec Islands

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the remote Kermadec Islands region, in northen Thursday, the New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) said.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the remote Kermadec Islands region, in northen Thursday, the New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) said.

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The quake occurred at 10:53 am at a depth of 62 km and its epicentre was about 260 km north east of Raoul Island, the GNS reported.

There were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.

No tsunami warning was issued following the quake.

The islands, which are often hit by severe quakes, have no permanent population except a small New Zealand Department of Conservation team on Raoul Island.