Strong earthquake jolts New Zealand`s South Island, no damage

USPA News - A strong earthquake struck off New Zealand`s South Island on Monday afternoon, with light to moderate tremors being felt across the region, seismologists said. There were no reports of damage or casualties and no tsunami alerts were issued.

The 6.2-magnitude earthquake at 6:13 p.m. local time (0513 GMT) was centered about 140 kilometers (87 miles) west of Tuatapere, a small town northwest of Invercargill near the southern coast of the South Island. It struck about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to GeoNet, the country`s seismological agency. GeoNet said light to moderate shaking was felt across the southern region of the South Island, but Emergency Management Southland said there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The agency added that the earthquake, which was initially measured at a magnitude of 5.8 before being revised up, was not large enough to generate a tsunami. The United States Geological Survey (USGS), which has less resources in the region, measured Monday`s quake at 5.7. New Zealand has been struck by a number of earthquakes over the past few years. A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Christchurch in February 2011, killing 185 people and injuring more than 1,500 others, making it the country`s deadliest disaster since a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Hawke`s Bay region in February 1931, killing at least 256 people and injuring thousands. A second earthquake, also measuring 6.3, struck near Christchurch in June 2011, killing an elderly man and injuring 46 others.