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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
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.

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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.

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