Earthquake

Strong earthquake strikes Indonesia; 2 dead

The 6.5-magnitude quake was centered in Cipatujah, in the western part of Java, the US Geological Survey said, at a depth of 91.9 kilometers (about 57 miles).

Residents felt the quake about 190 miles away (305 kilometers) in the capital of Jakarta, where people briefly evacuated to the ground floor of their high-rises.

Tremors were also felt in the cities of Bandung, more than 63.5 miles away (102.1 kilometers) and Yogyakarta, more than 211 miles away (339.9 kilometers), authorities said.

Centre of New Zealand and Wellington rocked by early morning earthquake

The quake, measuring magnitude 4.1, struck 15km northwest of Wellington just after 2.30am.

Geonet said the quake caused light shaking across the region.

More than 2100 people reported feeling the quake from as far afield as Bay of Plenty and Christchurch.

Many living in the Wellington region described it as a noisy quake that could be heard several seconds before it struck.

"I was already awake working and heard it coming. Rumble then shake," posted Tracy Wellington.

Strong quake hits Iraq-Iran border region

It struck 32km (20mi) south-west of the Iraqi town of Halabja, the USGS said.

Iranian state media said it was felt in several provinces, with eight villages damaged and electricity cut.

Kurdish TV also said many people in Iraqi Kurdistan fled their homes when it struck but there were no initial reports of casualties.

The earthquake struck just before 21:20 local time in Baghdad (18:20 GMT) at a depth of 33.9 km.

     

Infrastructure concerns in Solomons after latest quakeInfrastructure concerns in Solomons after latest quake

Another powerful quake struck near Kirakira this morning - a 6.7 magnitude quake at a depth of 33km.

The undersea quake hit 71km west of the city of Kirakira, which is on the country's biggest island, Makira.

Director of the National Disaster Management Office Loti Yates said there was no tsunami threat from this morning's quake but he was expecting more reports of damage.

Mr Yates said multiple quakes of magnitude 5 and above have hampered relief operations still underway in the Makira area.

Magnitude-6.9 earthquake hits near Fiji, prompting evacuations, causing power cuts

The USGS said the quake was at a depth of 15.2 kilometres and an aftershock measuring magnitude-5.7 had also been recorded.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has withdrawn a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific located 300 kilometres from the epicentre.

Radio New Zealand reported people had been evacuating the Fijian tourist hub of Nadi since the earthquake struck.

There have been no reports of damage or injury from Fiji.

7000 affected across three provinces by Solomons' quakes

RNZ reports disaster authorities said around 200 buildings had been destroyed or damaged in the provinces of Makira & Ulawa, Malaita and Guadalcanal.

Among them were 11 schools and a medical clinic.

Some dwellings were also hit by waves generated by Friday's 7-point-8 magnitude quake and Saturday's 6-point-9 aftershock.

The country director for World Vision Solomon Islands Janes Ginting said the tremors had left communities very nervous.

Tsunami threat to the Pacific has passed

RNZ reports the quake struck at a depth of 10km, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, in New Caledonia.

A warning was issued for Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji, but the Hawaii-based centre now says the threat has passed.

However, it still advised people in the area to exercise caution near the sea, as minor fluctuations can occur in coastal areas.

There have so far been no reports of damaged.

     

Deadly quake strikes off Ecuador coast

Ecuador's strongest earthquake in decades killed at least 41 people and caused damage near the epicentre as well as in the largest city of Guayaquil.

RNZI reports President Rafael Correa declared a national emergency and urged the nation's 16 million people to stay calm.

Christchurch hit by 5.7 earthquake

Geonet reported the epicentre of the quake was centred 15km east of Christchurch at a depth of 15km.

A cliff collapsed at Whitewash Head near Sumner and engineers are assessing it to establish its stability.

There are reports of liquefaction and flooding in parts of New Brighton.

Massive earthquake hits near Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville

The undersea quake struck at 3.19am local time (5.19am NZ time), at a depth of 30.6 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.

Its epicentre was 94 kilometres southwest of the Bougainville town of Panguna. The island sits to the northwest of the Solomon Islands. 

The impact of the quake wasn't immediately known.