(File photo: CGTN)

NEW YORK, March 31 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 jolted southeast of the Loyalty Islands at 19:50:41 GMT on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 22.829 degrees south latitude and 170.536 degrees east longitude.