Major quake strikes in Pacific

WASHINGTON - A major earthquake struck under the Pacific Ocean about 800km north of Auckland last night.

More than 500 people called emergency services after the quake, measuring 7.6 on the richter scale, which was felt as far south as Ashburton.

There were no reports of any damage.

Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS) said the quake struck at a depth of 150km, at 10.39pm.

Professor of Geophysics at Victoria University Euan Smith said the size of the earthquake could have generated a tsunami if it had been shallower.

"It was located in old Pacific sea floor, which is sinking back into the earth.

"An earthquake like this one, if it was shallower, would move the earth's surface and would displace water and produce a tsunami."

Prof Smith told National Radio this quake was "about a sixth of the size" of the recent Tongan quake, which triggered tsunami warnings for New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The number of quakes in the Pacific region was not unusual.

"The world will get two or three earthquakes the size of the Tongan earthquake every year...this one was a long way south of the Tongan earthquake.

"It really is just one of those things."

- NZPA, REUTERS