Wellington, Sep 22 (UNI) An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale hit central New Zealand on Thursday, according to New Zealand's geoscience research service provider.
More than 44,000 people reported feeling the quake and there are no reports of casualties or structural damages so far.
It struck at 9.07 pm local time 30 km northeast of French Pass at the north end of the South Island at a depth of 51 km, said GNS Science, which called it a "strong earthquake".
The tremor was felt in Wellington and throughout central New Zealand.
New Zealand has frequent seismic activities as it lies at the southwest end of a vast horseshoe-shaped zone of intense volcanism and earthquakes. This zone extends, essentially unbroken, around the margins of the Pacific Ocean -- the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire.
UNI/XINHUA ING