In New Zealand, a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck near the remote Kermadec Islands northeast of New Zealand today, briefly prompting a tsunami warning.

After initially forecasting a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities, Civil Defence organisation gave the all-clear after eight minutes. The quake was given a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 by the US Geological Survey but was later downgraded to 7.2.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also lifted its tsunami warning for parts of the South Pacific but said minor sea level fluctuations may occur in some coastal areas.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres some 928 kilometres north-northeast of the New Zealand city of Tauranga in the North Island.