Asia-Pacific

M5.3 quake hits off New Zealand North Island

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-11 15:33

WELLINGTON - An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale struck off the east of New Zealand's North Island on Wednesday afternoon.

The quake, occurred at 06:11 pm New Zealand local time (06:11 GMT), was centered 1,745 km southwest of Nukula'ofa, the capital of Tonga, at a depth of 42.6 km, the US Geological Survey reported.

Earlier Wednesday, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake also hit New Zealand North Island's Bay of Plenty region. The tremor, occurred at 4:37 pm (0437 GMT), was centered 20 km east of Opotiki, at a depth of 80 km, the New Zealand geological agency GNS Science reported.

No damage and casualties were reported.