Strong quake strikes remote Pacific islands

Wellington: A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake has struck near the remote Kermadec Islands in the South Pacific, US geologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake, at 9:24am, was centred 146 kilometres (91 miles) below the surface, the US Geological Survey said.

The uninhabited Kermadecs, New Zealand`s northernmost islands, lie 1,100 kilometres north of Auckland in an active tectonic zone.

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the island region two weeks ago.