Earthquake of 6.1 magnitude jolts New Zealand, epicenter in Cook Strait

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 jolted New Zealand's North Island on Wednesday, according to New Zealand's geoscience research service provider.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted New Zealand's North Island on Wednesday, according to New Zealand's geoscience research service provider.

It occurred at 19:38 local time (0638 GMT), striking 50 km northwest of Paraparaumu, a town in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand, 55 km north of the nation's capital city, Wellington, at a depth of 57.4 km, said the GNS Science, Xinhua News Agency reported.

There are no reports of casualties so far.

--IANS

int/svn/