No injuries or damage were immediately reported. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says there was no threat of a widespread tsunami based on historical earthquake and tsunami data.

The US Geological Service and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the quake hit at 1425 IST today, some 26.5 km beneath the ocean.

The epicentre was about 149 kilometres off Ile Tadine in New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands chain, and more than 1,600 kilometres from Brisbane, Australia.