6.9M earthquake strikes in Australia/New Zealand area for 2nd time in 7 weeks

A map by the U.S. Geological Survey shows where the earthquake was centered on Thursday, just southwest of New Zealand. Image courtesy U.S. Geological Survey

May 19 (UPI) -- A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Australia on Thursday and created a tsunami warning, scientists said.

The quake registered a magnitude of 6.9 in the Pacific Ocean in the Macquarie Island region, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was centered about 660 miles southwest of Bluff, New Zealand

The quake was strong enough to generate a tsunami warning for Macquarie Island.

The USGS said that the quake affected little land. There were no reports of damage caused by the quake or a tsunami.

Thursday's was the second powerful quake in the region in less than two months. A 6.9-magnitude earthquake also was measured off the Australian coast on March 30, which did not produce a tsunami warning.