An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the remote Kermadec Islands region, north of New Zealand's North Island on Thursday, the New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) said.

The quake occurred at 10:53 a.m. New Zealand local time (2153 GMT Wednesday) at a depth of 62 km, the GNS reported.

The quake's epicenter was about 260 km north east of Raoul Island.

There were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.

No tsunami warning was issued by the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The islands, which are often hit by severe quakes, have no permanent population except a small New Zealand Department of Conservation team on Raoul Island.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2009)