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World|life|November 14, 2016 / 09:22 AM
Aftershocks rattle New Zealand after powerful quake kills two

AKIPRESS.COM - s2.reutersmedia.net A strong new earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 rattled New Zealand's South Island on Monday, hours after a more powerful quake killed at least two people, damaged roads and buildings and sent thousands fleeing to higher ground, Reuters reported.

Emergency response teams were already flying by helicopter to the region at the epicenter of the original 7.8 magnitude quake, which struck just after midnight some 91 km (57 miles) northeast of Christchurch in the South Island, amid reports of injuries and collapsed buildings.

New Zealand's capital Wellington was a virtual ghost town with workers ordered to stay away while the local council assessed the risk to buildings. Severe weather with 140 kph gale-force winds was forecast for the area, which could cause more damage, such as from glass loosened by the tremors.

The new tremor, a 6.2 quake recorded at about 1.45 p.m. local time, was the most powerful of hundreds of aftershocks in the South Pacific country. It rattled frayed nerves in an area where memories of a deadly 2011 quake are still fresh.

There were no new tsunami warnings issued after the 6.2 aftershock.

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