Ankara: A strong earthquake of 6.7 magnitude struck southeast of the Loyalty Islands Monday, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The quake occurred at 14:45 GMT, with a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

According to Anadolu Agency, no tsunami warning was issued following the seismic event. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to infrastructure, indicating a limited impact on the local population and structures.

The epicenter of the earthquake was initially determined to be at 23.00 degrees south latitude and 171.40 degrees east longitude. The Loyalty Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean, are part of the highly active Pacific Ring of Fire, where seismic events are a common occurrence due to tectonic activity.