6.6 magnitude quake hits off New Zealand

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A strong 6.6-magnitude earthquake hit off the northeast coast of New Zealand on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a local tsunami warning but said there was no threat of a widespread destructive tsunami.

The quake struck at 1:02 am (1302 Monday GMT) around 550 kilometres (350 miles) east of Auckland, USGS said, with an epicentre 90 kilometres (55 miles) below the surface.

USGS had earlier placed the magnitude at 6.4.

New Zealand's second largest city Christchurch was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude quake in February, which claimed 181 lives and followed a more powerful but less destructive 7.1 quake last September.