The Kermadec Islands archipelago was rocked by an earthquake on Monday. It was strong – it had a magnitude of 7.1 and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. There was a risk of a tsunami.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported on Monday that an earthquake struck the area of the Kermadec Islands under the Pacific Ocean. The phenomenon had a magnitude of 7.1. The archipelago is about a thousand kilometers northeast of New Zealand.
According to the USGS, the tremors were recorded at a depth of 49 kilometers. A tsunami warning was issued, but was soon lifted.
Earthquake locationearthquake.usgs.gov
Pacific Ring of Fire
The Kermadec Islands archipelago administratively belongs to New Zealand. It consists of four larger islands and a number of smaller ones.
To the east of the islands is the deep sea Kermadec Trench, which is the epicenter of numerous earthquakes. The archipelago and the trench are located in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, where violent geological events are common.
Pacific Ring of FireMaciej Zieliński/PAP/Reuters
Main photo source: earthquake.usgs.gov