Post date: Jul 21, 2013 9:40:34 AM
New Zealand hit by a 6. 9 magnitude earthquake with only minor damage.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (JULY 21, 2013) (TV3 (NEW ZEALAND) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck New Zealand on Sunday (July 21), the U.S. Geological Survey's monitoring service reported, but there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.
New Zealand's TV 3 anchor reported the magnitude at 6.5 and as being felt from Te Awamutu to Christchurch.Residents in Wellington described what happened as it struck.
"At first I didn't feel anything because I was moving, the next thing I know there was big waves going across the swimming pool and I turned around and people were just climbing out of there and I followed suit, you know," said an unidentified resident.
"I was underneath the bar with all the wine bottles and stuff on top. So, I quickly ran out and just went to the front door and opened it up and people were just standing around like, oh god," said another unidentified person.
"Something unbelievable, it's coming. It's little bit slow after then it's big. I take everything I'm get out of the building. Something is unbelievable is today," said an unidentified man.
The largest of a series of tremors that have shaken the region in the past few days, the quake knocked items off shelves, shattered some windows and brought trains in the capital, Wellington, to a halt.
The quake's epicentre was in the Cook Strait that separates the country's North and South islands. Domestic media have reported some power outages in the South Island.
The Pacific tsunami warning centre has not issued a tsunami warning.