7.8 Quake Hits New Zealand; Tsunami Warning Issued

A powerful earthquake has struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch, with strong jolts felt over 120 miles away in the capital, Wellington. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, reports the AP. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at first reported that there was no risk of a tsunami, but later changed that advisory and advised people on South Island to move to higher ground, adds CBS News. The magnitude-7.8 quake struck just after midnight Sunday and was centered 57 miles northeast of Christchurch, according to the US Geological Survey. It was at a relatively shallow depth of 6 miles. Earthquakes tend to be more strongly felt on the surface when they're shallow. New Zealand sits on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common. An earthquake in 2011 in Christchurch killed 185 people. (More earthquake stories.)