Earthquake rocks southern New Zealand

updated 1:01 a.m. ET July 12, 2008

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A moderately strong earthquake rocked New Zealand's southern region on Saturday, a government-owned agency said, but there are no immediate reports of injury or damage.

Geological agency GNS Science says the magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit at about noon and was centered off the west coast of South Island.

It says the quake shook cities in the southern region only moderately because of its depth 60 miles below the Earth's surface.

New Zealand, which sits above an area where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates are colliding, records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year. Only about 150 are felt by people and fewer than 10 per year do any damage.

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