6.1-magnitude quake strikes off N Zealand

WELLINGTON: A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of New Zealand's South Island Thursday, geologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 18 kilometres (11 miles), 204 kilometres west of Invercargill, New Zealand's southernmost city, at 5:48 pm (0648 GMT), the US Geological Survey said.

It was followed about two hours later by a 5.2-magnitude aftershock with its epicentre in the same area.