Quake rocks northern New Zealand

on 17/10/2012 08:32:39

A magnitude-5.5 earthquake has been widely felt on New Zealand's North Island, though no major damage or injuries were reported.

The epicentre was relatively deep at 68 miles. That lessens the surface impact, though such quakes tend to be felt over a broader area.

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck about 38 miles south of Rotorua.

A sharp jolt was felt as far away as Wellington, about 186 miles south. Politicians noted it on Twitter while some workers took shelter under their desks.

New Zealand sits on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. A February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch killed 185 people and destroyed much of the city centre.