An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck areas near the Kermadec Islands off the coast of New Zealand on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

The agency said: “The epicentre was located 537 kilometres northeast of the town of Hicks Bay, population about 1,4,000, on New Zealand’s North Island, at a depth of 10 kilometres.

There were no reports of human casualties or material damage as a result of the earthquake, and no tsunami warning was issued.