WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A strong earthquake shook the remote Kermadec Islands in the South Pacific early Saturday, New Zealand's geological sciences group said.
Less than an hour after the magnitude 6.5 quake struck, a magnitude 5.2 temblor was recorded east of Raoul Island in the Kermadec archipelago, the group said.
No injuries or damage were reported on the largely uninhabited New Zealand-controlled islands, located more than 700 miles northeast of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland.
Both quakes were centered about 60 miles east-south-east of Raoul Island, the site of a volcanic eruption March 17 that spewed plumes of steam and ash and devastated the surrounding area.
Sciences group official Brad Scott said there was no indication that the volcano on Raoul Island was affected by the temblor.
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