A 5.68-magnitude earthquake hit New Zealand, data provided by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) showed.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the quake was some 43 kilometers west of Methven, home to close to two thousand people.
The tremor struck the region at 11.7 kilometers and it remains unknown as of yet whether any casualties or damages were suffered.