Strong quake hits New Zealand

September 01, 2009 02:02:03 PM

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A strong earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck off the east of New Zealand's North Island Tuesday but there were no immediate reports of damage, seismologists said.

The earthquake at 12:18 pm (0018 GMT) was centred 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of White Island, off the east coast of the North Island, at a depth of 250 kilometres, government-owned GNS Science said.

The quake was felt throughout the lower North Island and the north of the South Island, GNS Science said.

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