5.8 magnitude earthquake hits central New Zealand, no casualties reported

WELLINGTON - An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 jolted central New Zealand on Thursday evening, according to New Zealand's geoscience research service provider.

It struck at 21:07 local time (0907 GMT) 30 km northeast of French Pass at the north end of the South Island of New Zealand, at a depth of 51 km, said GNS Science, which called it a "strong earthquake".

The tremor was felt in Wellington and throughout central New Zealand. More than 44,000 people reported feeling the quake and there are no reports of casualties or structural damages so far.

New Zealand has frequent seismic activities as it lies at the southwest end of a vast horseshoe-shaped zone of intense volcanism and earthquakes. This zone extends, essentially unbroken, around the margins of the Pacific Ocean -- the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire.