7.2 magnitude earthquake rattles New Zealand's Kermadec Islands

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 23 (UPI) -- A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck near New Zealand's Kermadec Islands on Monday, with no damages or casualties reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake's epicenter was 45 miles south-southeast of Raoul Island at a depth of 30 kilometers.

The earthquake zone is considered "one of the most seismically active areas of the world due to the high rates of convergence between the Australia and Pacific plates," the USGS added.

GNS duty seismologist Carolyn Holden told Radio New Zealand that initially, the magnitude of the quake caused some concern for Raoul Island, but GNS ultimately determined the quake posed no tsunami threat.