Strong magnitude 6.7 quake strikes off New Zealand coast but no reports of damage or injuries

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A strong magnitude-6.7 earthquake that struck off the New Zealand coast Monday morning rattled much of the country but did not result in any initial reports of damage or injuries.

The quake hit 178 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of the North Island city of Gisborne, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter was a relative deep 35 kilometres, according to the agency.

The quake was felt throughout much of country according to the GeoNet agency, which collects earthquake information. Most people reported feeling it as a light or moderate shaking.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning.

New Zealand is part of a geologically active region that’s often called the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

A 2011 earthquake in the city of Christchurch destroyed much of the downtown and killed 185 people.