Kermadec Islands: An earthquake measuring 4.9 magnitude on the Richter scale struck Sunday the Kermadec Islands off the coast of New Zealand. According to Qatar News Agency, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km, with no reports of human losses or material damage so far, US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The Kermadec Islands are located about 1,000 km northeast of New Zealand's North Island and are frequently exposed to strong earthquakes. The most recent significant event was a 5.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred last October.