A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck the remote Kermadec Islands, north of New Zealand North Island on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake hit the New Zealand territory, 960 km north east of Auckland at 12:06 p.m. New Zealand local time (0654 GMT) at a depth of 142 km.

No casualties or damage were reported.

The islands, which are often rocked by severe quakes, have no permanent population. Only a small New Zealand Department of Conservation team live on Raoul island.