**Magnitude 4.9 Earthquake Hits New Zealand's Hawkes Bay Region**
Wellington, August 13 (AP) - A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck the lower North Island of New Zealand on Wednesday. The country's geological sciences agency, GeoNet, classified the tremor's intensity as moderate.
The earthquake's epicenter was located 20 km south of Hastings in the Hawkes Bay region, at a depth of 30 km, according to reports from GeoNet. There have been no immediate reports of damage following the quake.
The seismic event occurred just before 6 p.m. local time and was felt by nearly 6,000 residents who filed reports on the GeoNet website.
Hawkes Bay is recognized as one of New Zealand's most seismically active areas. The region experienced a significant earthquake in 1931 that resulted in the loss of 256 lives.
New Zealand, home to a population of 5 million, is positioned on the 'Ring of Fire,' an arc characterized by frequent seismic activities including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that encircle the Pacific Ocean.
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