A 5.7-magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand capital Wellington on Thursday sending screaming people out of their houses and other buildings, reports said.
The quake struck the city at 9:06 a.m. (local time) with its epicenter at a depth of eight kilometer east of Seddon, the New Zealand government's geological agency GNS reported.
According to the New Zealand Herald, multi-storey buildings in the capital city swayed at least for 30 seconds in the tremor which was felt in Nelson, Marlborough, Manawatu and Taranaki also.
GNS seismologist Anna Kaiser said the quake, centered halfway between Wellington and Blenheim, was the biggest in the region this year. It was felt as far north as New Plymouth and as far south as Canterbury, with more than 6,000 people reporting on the GeoNet website that they have felt the quake.
There have been more than 20 aftershocks with the major one of 4.4-magnitude in five hours since the initial quake.
No loss of life or property damage was reported so far.
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