Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes New Zealand near capital city

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near New Zealand's capital Wellington on Monday, government seismic monitor Geonet said. The earthquake was 46 km deep and 25km northwest of Levin, according to Geonet.

A Reuters witness felt strong shaking in Wellington. Emergency officials said there were no immediate reports of damage. 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.