A magnitude 7.1 earthquake happened in a faraway part of the Pacific Ocean on Monday. It happened near the Kermadec Islands, which are about 900 kilometers away from New Zealand’s North Island. The earthquake was 49 kilometers deep. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no risk of a tsunami in Hawaii or the rest of the Pacific. There was a possibility of a tsunami in the area, but there was no impact.
New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency said it was checking if the earthquake could affect New Zealand. They advised people to move away from coastal areas if they felt a strong or long earthquake. The Kermadec Islands are uninhabited, except for Raoul Island, where scientists sometimes stay to do research work.
The islands were created by a ridge that rose from the ongoing collision between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. Large earthquakes happen often in this area.
