16/08/2013 09:45
Powerful earthquake shakes major cities across New Zealand
A powerful earthquake shook major cities across New Zealand on Friday, sending terrified office workers diving under their desks but with no initial reports of significant damage, the Telegraph reports.
The 6.8-magnitude quake struck at 2:31 pm (0231 GMT) in the Cook Strait, the US Geological Survey said. It was felt from Christchurch in the South Island to Auckland in the North Island.
The USGS said it hit five kilometres (three miles) east of Seddon at a depth of 10.6 kilometres, close to the centre of a series of quakes last month.
No tsunami alert was issued.