Advertisement

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake jolts central New Zealand

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck in the remote Southern Ocean south of New Zealand on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake, at a shallow depth of 10km, was recorded 211km west of the sub-Antarctic Auckland Island, off New Zealand’s South Island, the US Geological Survey said.

It was felt across the Wellington region and at the top of the South Island at 2.42pm local time.

The earthquake struck off the south island. Source: USGS

GeoNet said the moderate quake was centred 25km east of Seddon at a depth of 36km. More than 3000 people registered that they felt it, according to the organisation's website.

There were no tsunami warnings issued immediately after the quake.

Metlink said on Twitter that trains out of the capital will be running at reduced speeds, so small delays should be expected.

On social media, people from Wainuiomata to Whitby, Thorndon to Paraparaumu said they felt the jolt.

A number of office workers in Wellington reported two sharp rumbles.

Anna-Lisa Parsons said it "felt slow and roll-y down by Midland Park [central Wellington]".

Earlier on Wednesday, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck 585km south-west of Invercargill.

Residents in Balclutha, Gore, Invercargill, Lumsden, Roxburgh, Te Anau and Tuatapere have reported that they felt shaking, according to GeoNet.

It was initially classified as a strong quake, but has since been classified as moderate.

No damage has been reported in either earthquake.

It comes just hours after Mexico was rocked by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, killing at least 138 people.