Washington, January 20 (QNA) - An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale struck on Tuesday New Caledonia Island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the quake was located at a depth of 10 kilometers, noting that there have been no reports of casualties or material damage due to the earthquake so far.

New Caledonia is in the Pacific Ocean on the Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates meet and their friction with each other leads to intense seismic and volcanic activity. (QNA)