New Zealand city rattled by 5.0-magnitude quake

The quake, which struck at a relatively shallow depth of 19 kilometres (12 miles), around 18 kilometres (12 miles) east of Christchurch at 5:45 am on Monday (1645 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake-devastated New Zealand city of Christchurch was rattled Monday by a 5.0-magnitude tremor, geologists said, although there were no immediate reports of damage.

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The quake, which struck at a relatively shallow depth of 19 kilometres (12 miles), around 18 kilometres (12 miles) east of Christchurch at 5:45 am on Monday (1645 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey.

Christchurch, New Zealand's second most populous city, was battered by a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake in February last year that left 181 people dead and destroyed much of its centre.

The city has been hit by a series of strong aftershocks since causing fear among residents and further damage to property.

New Zealand sits on the so-called "Ring of Fire", the boundary of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, and experiences up to 15,000 tremors a year.