Powerful quake jolts remote islands off New Zealand

Wellington, Dec 9 (Xinhua) A strong earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale jolted New Zealand's remote areas of Kermadec Islands in the Pacific Ocean Tuesday, the US Geological Survey reported.

The quake, which occurred at 7:24 p.m. Tuesday, caused no casualties or damage so far.

The epicenter of the quake was at 215 km southeast of Raoul Island and 990 km northeast of Auckland and at a depth of 35 km.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue tsunami warning.

In the past three months, tremors of 7.3, 6.5 and 6.0 magnitude were recorded in the area, 1,000 km north of New Zealand.

Earthquakes and volcanic activity are common in the Kermadec islands area, which is part of the 'Ring of Fire,' where the Pacific plate of the earth's crust meets other continental plates.