Earthquakes again shake eastern New Zealand

By Recep Sakar

MELBOURNE, Australia (AA) - Two earthquakes shook New Zealand on Tuesday, as aftershocks from a temblor that left two dead earlier this month continued to hit the country.

According to the United States Geological Survey, a magnitude 5.9 quake off the eastern coast of North Island in the afternoon was followed by a magnitude 5.3 off South Island around five hours later.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat from the tremors.

While there were no reports of casualties or major damage, Television New Zealand reported a worker in Culverden in South Island’s northern Canterbury region as saying the quake dislodged items from shelves.

On Nov. 14, a magnitude 7.8 quake shook New Zealand shortly after midnight, triggering a minor tsunami and resulting in damage to roads, ports and buildings.

New Zealand sits on the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur