Quake hits pacific islands

A strong earthquake has hit a group of New Caledonia islands in the South Pacific. No tsunami warning was issued.

The 7.3-magnitude quake was centred on the Loyalty Islands, a chain about 1,000 miles east of the Australian city of Brisbane.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake, though only 4.5 miles deep, was not expected to trigger a destructive wave.