New Zealand's South Island rattled by 6.0 magnitude earthquake

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted New Zealand's South Island on Wednesday, causing alarm among residents. 

The quake, occurring at 09:14am (2114 GMT), was initially measured at 5.6 magnitude by the US Geological Survey and later revised to 6.0 by New Zealand’s GeoNet monitoring service.

Reports indicated that the earthquake resulted in no injuries or significant damage. The shallow tremor prompted more than 14,000 people to report feeling the shake, extending as far as Auckland in the North Island.

Rebecca Chapman, working at Cafe Verde in Geraldine, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the epicentre, described the experience: "Nothing broke, but the lights were shaking." 

She added that it was a bit scary, particularly for a customer who had endured the devastating Christchurch earthquake in February 2011, a 6.3 magnitude event that claimed 185 lives.

Sarah Hussey, a farmer near the epicentre, shared her experience, noting that the quake was stronger than those she had encountered before. However, she confirmed there was no damage at her location. 

Scott Shannon, the deputy mayor of Timaru, a region near the earthquake's centre, said that while there were no immediate reports of damage, ongoing checks were being conducted.

The earthquake is significant as it is the largest in New Zealand this year and struck not far from where the devastating 6.3 magnitude quake occurred in 2011, leading to significant loss of life and major damage in Christchurch. 

New Zealand, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activities due to tectonic plate movements. The country remains vigilant and prepared, applying past lessons to mitigate potential risks.