An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted New Zealand's South Island on Wednesday.
As per reports, the quake took place at 09:14 am and the tremor was shallow in nature and notably occurred near Geraldine, at a depth of 11 km.
No reports of injuries or significant damage have been reported so far.
Initially the earthquake was recorded at 5.6 magnitude by the US Geological Survey (USGS) but later country’s GeoNet monitoring service revised it to 6.0.
This earthquake is of notable importance as it represents the largest one documented in New Zealand during the current year.
It occurred in close proximity to the location of the destructive 6.3 magnitude earthquake in 2011, which had devastating consequences, resulting in widespread destruction in the South Island city of Christchurch and a significant loss of life.
New Zealand, positioned within the Pacific Ring of Fire, regularly experiences seismic and volcanic activity due to the collision of tectonic plates. The area continues to be diligent in its readiness and reaction to these occurrences, with the objective of reducing potential hazards and protecting its inhabitants.