A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand: no reports of major structural damage

New Zealand experienced a magnitude 5.6 earthquake on Wednesday morning, with no reports of significant damage or injuries. The quake occurred in the central South Island, approximately 124km west of Christchurch, as indicated by the U.S. Geological Survey. It was relatively shallow, at a depth of 11km. The latter made the quake more strongly felt.

According to New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency, there was no tsunami risk associated with the earthquake. Moreover, more than 14,000 people reported feeling the earthquake to the GeoNet monitoring agency. Residents described a strong, rocking sensation, with multiple alarms triggered.

New Zealand is often humorously referred to as the "Shaky Isles" due to its frequent seismic activity. The country is situated along the "Ring of Fire," a zone of tectonic plate boundaries encircling the Pacific Ocean. In the area around the Pacific Ocean, earthquakes and volcanic activity are frequent.