Magnitude 6.2 quake strikes near Christchurch, New Zealand - USGS

SYDNEY: A strong new earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck New Zealand's South Island on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, hours after a more powerful quake killed two people and damaged buildings along the east coast of the South Island.

The latest quake was initially measured with a magnitude of 6.8. It struck at about 1.45 pm local time (0045 GMT) at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), about 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Christchurch, the USGS said.