Wellington: New Zealand authorities declared a civil emergency in a central city today when several of its older buildings collapsed due to a magnitude 6.8 quake that jolted much of the country. The quake off New Zealand's east coast caused damage to Gisborne's infrastructure but no serious injuries. At least 10 people were treated for minor injuries, officials said.
The quake, centered in the Hikurangi undersea trench off North Island hit at 8:55 p.m. Local time (1325 IST) at 40 kilometers below the surface, the GNS Science geological agency reported. It was located about 50 kilometers southeast of the coastal city.
The U. S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at magnitude 6.6. As part of the emergency ordinance, police cordoned off the city s central business area to ensure no serious casualties occured in damaged buildings, senior sergeant Moira Brown of Gisborne police said as dawn broke in the area.
