Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Hits South Pacific

Geological monitoring services say a magnitude 7.1 earthquake has hit in the South Pacific off the French territory of New Caledonia.

No injuries or damage were immediately reported. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says there was no threat of a widespread tsunami based on historical earthquake and tsunami data.

The U.S. Geological Service and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the quake hit at 0855 GMT on Tuesday, some 26.5 km (16.5 miles) beneath the ocean. The epicenter was about 92 miles (149 kilometers) off Ile Tadine in New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands chain, and more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from Brisbane, Australia.