Wednesday 1 February 2017

BREAKING NEWS: New Zealand hit by 'strong' 5.1-magnitude earthquake

Posted by sizzledfeed on 03:54

BREAKING NEWS: New Zealand hit by 'strong' 5.1-magnitude earthquake

By OLLIE GILLMAN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

New Zealand has been struck by a 'strong' 5.1-magnitude earthquake.

The quake hit north east of Kaikoura on South Island - not far from the site of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that toppled buildings and claimed two lives in November last year.

Wednesday evening's earthquake was first described as 'moderate' but has now been upgraded to 'strong' by GeoNet.

It struck at a depth of 16km at 11.23pm local time.

New Zealand has been struck by a 'strong' 5.1-magnitude earthquake

It is not clear if anyone has been injured.

More than 2,000 people felt the tremor, with some taking to Facebook.

Dawn Hurst said: 'Well that was a wee bit of a rattle! My metal bedside lamp started rattling and I was waiting for more to come but nothing.'

Alan Byde wrote: 'The reason I am on Facebook at 23.58 is another quake. 5.1 at Kaikoura. It was a gentle quiver here but induced anything but calm in me.'