7.1-magnitude quake hits part of New Zealand, no tsunami alert

A magnitude 7.1 quake struck in Kermadec Islands of New Zealand on Monday but did not appear to generate a tsunami, the National Center for Seismology tweeted.

According to the NCS, the quake struck at 6.11 am IST near the Kermadec Islands about 900 kilometres (560 miles) northeast of New Zealand's North Island at a depth of 49 kilometers (30 miles).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake posed no threat to Hawaii and the wider Pacific. A localised potential for a tsunami passed without any confirmed impact, as reported by news agency PTI.

New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency said it was assessing whether the quake could affect New Zealand but gave its standard advice for people to move away from coastal areas if they felt a long or strong quake.

The Kermadec Islands are uninhabited except for Raoul Island where New Zealand scientists sometimes stay over to carry out meteorological observations or weed control work.

The islands are the site of frequent large earthquakes. They were geologically formed from a ridge that rose from the ongoing collision between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates.

(with PTI inputs)