SYDNEY - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 rocked the Loyalty Islands region of the South Pacific early Sunday, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake, centred 363 kilometres (226 miles) east-southeast of the Loyalty Islands in the French territory of New Caledonia, struck at 03:01 am (1601 Saturday GMT) at a depth of 55 kilometres (34 miles), it said.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage.

- AFP /ls