Powerful earthquake hits east New Zealand

By Recep Sakar

MELBOURNE, Australia (AA) – A powerful earthquake has struck eastern New Zealand.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the magnitude 7.4 temblor struck around 93 kilometers (57.8 miles) northeast of Christchurch, the largest city in the country’s South Island, shortly after midnight Sunday.

It occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there is no tsunami threat.

There were no immediate reports of causalities or damage.

New Zealand sits on the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.