[ad_1]
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck northern New Zealand's island on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey said, an earthquake felt by thousands of people there was no immediate report of damage or casualties.
Parliament was briefly suspended in Wellington and some flights failed in their landings, reported the newspaper New Zealand Herald, following the earthquake that hit the city center 63 km east of the city. New Plymouth, at a depth of 228 km.
"It was just a little flicker, it's not much," said Ken Wheeler, manager of a hardware store in Taumarunui, 31 km northeast of the epicenter.
"We have a whole section of gifts here, with crystal glasses, and that did not do anything."
The earthquake was initially rated at a magnitude of 6.2.
The New Zealand GeoNet earthquake monitor reported that 15,600 people had experienced this shock, most of them classified as moderate or light.
No damage was reported, said a spokeswoman for the civil defense.
In Auckland, where British Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are visiting, a Reuters witness said nothing was shaking.
Report by Tom Westbrook; Written by Sam Holmes; Edited by Clarence Fernandez
