5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes New Zealand

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit central New Zealand, rattling the nerves of thousands of people who live on the island.

The quake struck near Kaikoura—around the same area that was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake last month, News.com.au reported. It hit around 20 miles east of Seddon, a town on the South Island.

The quake struck at about 10 miles in depth.

Aftershocks since the main quake hit have registered 3.8-magnitude and 3.3-magnitude on the Richter scale.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first quake was initially registered as a 5.5, but was then downgraded to a 5.2 on the scale.

The New Zealand Herald, meanwhile, reported that about 7,000 people are believed to have felt the temblor.

“The rubble started and I thought it was just a bus going by but then I heard creaks in the house and thought, ‘Oh my goodness, this is another quake’. It went for some time,” local Michael Duncan told Chinchilla News.