Strong quake strikes off New Zealand; no injuries reported 

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand  — A strong earthquake has struck off New Zealand’s coast, but there were no initial reports of serious damage or injuries and no tsunami was expected.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.6 quake struck Tuesday 198 kilometers (123 miles) northwest of Auckland Island. The quake was shallow, with a depth of only 10 kilometers (6 miles).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami was not expected.

New Zealand sits on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common. An earthquake in the New Zealand city of Christchurch in 2011 killed 185 people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.