Today's Edition
NEW ZEALAND (REUTERS)
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near the town of Te Anau in New Zealand's South Island, shaking buildings and prompting authorities to briefly issue a tsunami warning.
The earthquake's epicentre was about 40 km north of Te Anau, which is the gateway to the tourist hotspot of Fiordland, according to New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The agency initially assessed the quake, which struck at 9.14 pm local time, at magnitude 6.3 before revising it downward to 5.9.
Although the tsunami alert was cancelled, NEMA said it expected coastal areas to experience "strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore."
It said people should move out of the water, off beaches, and stay away from harbours, marinas, and rivers.
There were more than 18,000 "felt reports" to the hazard monitoring system GeoNet.
