Strong quake hits near New Zealand but no tsunami threat

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A strong but deep earthquake has struck near New Zealand but didn’t immediately cause damage or injuries and a tsunami wasn’t expected.

The magnitude 6.9 quake struck Monday in the Kermadec Islands region about 775 kilometres (480 miles) northeast of Auckland, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Its depth was 111 kilometres (69 miles).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it didn’t expect a Pacific-wide tsunami. New Zealand authorities said they didn’t expect a tsunami to hit their country.

Another strong quake hit the South Pacific earlier Monday when a magnitude 6.5 quake struck near the Solomon Islands. There were no reports of damage or injuries.

New Zealand and the Solomon Islands sit on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific where earthquakes are common.