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Magnitude 6.1 earthquake near Wellington
A strong earthquake hits New Zealand
New Zealand is still struggling with the effects of a cyclone (photo), and then there’s the earthquake.
© Source: Hogp/New Zealand Defense Force/A
Wellington A violent earthquake struck New Zealand on Wednesday evening (local time). The quake had a magnitude of 6.1, according to the national earthquake agency Geonet. The center was near the capital, Wellington, at a depth of about 48 km in the sea, but the tremors were felt in many parts of the country.
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Within a short period, the New Zealand Herald reported, some 60,000 people online reported feeling the tremors clearly, including in the largest city of Auckland and in Christchurch in the South Island.
“huge and scary”
Many described the earthquake as “colossal and frightening”. They said it took about 30 seconds. Witnesses told dpa that they sought protection under tables.
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Read more after the announcement
The US Geological Survey, a US seismological service, estimated the earthquake’s intensity at 5.7 on the Richter scale. There was no tsunami warning. Nothing was initially known about possible injuries or damage.
New Zealand: devastating floods in the North Island
Many residents of the North Pacific island nation are currently experiencing devastating flooding after Tropical Storm Gabriel swept across the country. Since contact with the flooded areas is limited, it was not clear at first how many people are now also affected by the earthquake.
RND / dpa
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