Moderate earthquake rocks southern New Zealand; no injuries or damage

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A moderately strong earthquake rocked New Zealand's southern region Saturday, but there are no immediate reports of injury or damage. Government-owned geological agency GNS Science said the magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit at about noon Saturday and was centered off the west coast of South Island. It said the quake shook cities in the southern region only moderately because of its depth 60 miles (100 kilometers) below the Earth's surface. New Zealand sits above an area where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates are colliding and records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year. Only about 150 are felt by people and fewer than 10 a year do any damage.