New Zealand capital Wellington shaken by magnitude 5.6 quake

WELLINGTON, Feb 21 (Reuters) – A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck New Zealand near the South Island town of Blenheim on Monday at a depth of 30 km (19 miles), government seismic monitor Geonet said.

A Reuters witness felt strong shaking in capital Wellington. No immediate damages or injuries were reported.

New Zealand lies on the seismically active “Ring of Fire”, a 40,000-km arc of volcanoes and ocean trenches girdling much of the Pacific Ocean.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Tom Hogue)