Magnitude-5.8 offshore earthquake occurs northeast of New ...

A magnitude-5.8 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean to the northeast of New Zealand at around 11:03 Nov. 28. The epicenter was approximately 129 km (80 miles) east of Hicks Bay. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 6 km (4 miles), and weak-to-light shaking was probably felt in northeastern parts of the North Island. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible where shaking occurred.