A powerful earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, was reported near the region of the Macquarie Islands, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, while a tsunami alert was issued.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said the epicentre was near Macquarie Island in the South Ocean.

According to the initial seismic data, the earthquake had a focal depth of 29.3 km.

The first estimate spoke of a 7.3 Richter tremor.

The epicentre was reported 1,200 kilometres southwest of Dunedin, New Zealand, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC).