A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale was registered off the west coast of New Zealand's South Island on Tuesday, local and international seismological services reported, News.bg reports.
The earthquake occurred at 2:43 p.m. local time (03:43 GMT) on March 25, at a depth of 9 kilometers, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC).
The epicenter was located about 160 km west-southwest of Riverton and 358 km from Dunedin, near the Snares Archipelago, part of the subantarctic islands of New Zealand.
According to GeoNet, the New Zealand seismological center, the quake was felt by more than 4,700 people. Local media reported buildings shaking and objects falling into homes. Witnesses described "massive wooden tables shaking" and store shelves shaking.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported a magnitude of 6.7, but later confirmed it at 7.0.
New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency warned residents of Southland and Fiordland to avoid beaches and coastal areas due to the risk of strong and unusual sea currents. No tsunami threat has been issued, the Australian Meteorological Service confirmed.
New Zealand is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire - a zone of high seismic activity where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common.
There are currently no reports of injuries or significant property damage, and authorities are continuing to monitor the situation.