NEW ZEALAND (BNO NEWS) — A strong but deep earthquake struck off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island on late Wednesday afternoon, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The 6.4-magnitude earthquake at 4.14 p.m. local time was centered approximately 120 kilometers (74 miles) north of Te Kaha, a small New Zealand community in the Bay of Plenty near Opotiki.
It struck about 280 kilometers (173 miles) deep, making it a deep earthquake, according to GeoNet, the country’s seismological agency.
Light shaking as a result of the strong earthquake could be felt across the North Island of New Zealand, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Earlier this month, on September 4, a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand’s South Island. Some 100 people were injured in that earthquake, which struck several kilometers (miles) from the city of Christchurch.