The French territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific has been rocked by a huge 7.0 magnitude earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake hit near the cluster of islands, located in the South Pacific’s Ring of Fire, at 12.42am GMT. The center of the earthquake rocked east of the region’s capital Noumea, which is known for its Parisian-style luxury stores. New Caledonia is
located around 914 miles (1,471 km) from the east coast of Australia and 979 miles (1,575 km) north of New Zealand. No reports of damage or casualties have emerged so far. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii and the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no tsunami warning in effect for either of their regions. New Caledonia is popular with tourists for its beaches and coral reefs. READ MORE
