6.8-magnitude earthquake hits off New Caledonia

SYDNEY, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted 176 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia, on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake, which occurred at 0123 GMT, was initially centered at 21.704 degrees south latitude and 169.576 degrees east longitude with a depth of 14.2 km.