| GEO World | 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits New Zealand: USGS | Updated at: 2240 PST, Friday, September 03, 2010
WELLINGTON: A strong 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the South Island of New Zealand Saturday morning, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake struck at a depth of 16.1 kilometres (10.0 miles) some 30 kilometress (19 miles) from the island's largest city of Christchurch at 04:05 am (1635 GMT Friday), the USGS said.
There was no widespread threat of a tsunami, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.
But an earthquake of this magnitude could generate a local tsunami that could cause destruction within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of the epicentre, it said.
The magnitude was revised downwards from an initial estimate of 7.4, the USGS said. |  | | | |
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