After Cyclone Gabrielle, New Zealand's capital hit with strong earthquake

After Cyclone Gabrielle claimed four lives, New Zealand's capital, located on the southern end of the cyclone-hit North Island, Wellington was swayed by a strong earthquake on February 15, with residents reporting feeling a sudden jolt and buildings quivering.

The US Geological Survey stated that the quake measured 5.7 on the moment magnitude scale while New Zealand's Civil Defence agency said that the temblor had a magnitude of 6.0.

The epicentre was 57 km deep in the Cook Strait between the country's two main islands.

"A big shake there! A magnitude 6.0, 57 km deep, 50 km north-west of Paraparaumu was widely felt in the North Island," said New Zealand's Civil Defence agency.

There were no immediate reports of damage, and no tsunami warning has been issued.

But residents reported feeling the ground shaking for 10-20 seconds, likening it to a convoy of giant trucks rolling by.

The quake came as the cleanup gets underway from a devastating cyclone, which killed four people and caused widespread damage across the North Island.

(AFP inputs)

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