6.0-magnitude quake hits off New Zealand coast

WELLINGTON—A shallow 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island on Thursday, seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake struck at 7:53 p.m. (0753 GMT) at a depth of 13 kilometers (eight miles), with the epicenter around 500 kilometers northeast of the town of Gisborne.

New Zealand, currently hosting the Rugby World Cup, lies on the Pacific “ring of fire”, a zone of frequent seismic activity, and is prone to earthquakes.

The second largest city, Christchurch, was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude quake in February which killed 181 people, and much of the central area remains cordoned-off.

Christchurch, the capital of New Zealand’s rugby-mad Canterbury region, had been due to host five World Cup pool matches and two quarter-finals, but the games were rescheduled elsewhere in the aftermath of the quake.