No injuries reported as quake hits New Zealand

A large earthquake shook the east coast of New Zealand's North Island today, but no damage or injuries were reported.

The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences said the tremor, measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale, struck at 4.49 p.m. (5.49 a.m. Irish time).

The government institute said the earthquake was centred 220 kilometres northeast of the capital, Wellington, and 27 kilometres underground.

The tremor was felt throughout central and lower regions of the North Island.

New Zealand scientists record about 10,000 earthquakes a year, of which about 20 top 5.0 on the Richter scale.