Magnitude 5.7 earthquake hits New Zealand

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck New Zealand at 5.08 a.m. Sunday local time (1608GMT Saturday), according to the GeoNet monitoring system.

The quake took place 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) west of the capital Wellington near Cook Strait at a depth of 30 km (18.6 mi), said GeoNet, an organization monitoring geological hazards in the country.

The organization reported over 36,000 instances of people feeling the quake, with strong shaking across the Wellington region and northern South Island.

No immediate casualties were reported.