No Filipinos hurt in New Zealand quake—DFA

Earthquake damage to a property in the small South Island town of Seddon after a magnitude-6.5 earthquake hit in the upper South Island of New Zealand, Friday, Aug. 16, 2013. Strong earthquakes shook central New Zealand on Friday, damaging homes, destroying a bridge and sending office workers scrambling for cover in the capital. No serious injuries have been reported. AP

MANILA, Philippines—No Filipinos casualties were reported from the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that shook New Zealand Friday afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

“Philippines Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia Benavidez reported to the DFA that there are no reports of Filipinos injured in the earthquake that struck Wellington at 2:31 p.m., Wellington time(10:31 GMT),” DFA spokesman assistant secretary Raul Hernandez said in a text message.

“Our embassy will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos there,” he said. There are about 36,000 Filipinos in New Zealand.

The quake affected the surrounding area of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand.

The epicenter of the tremor was located in an area about 50 miles off the coast of Wellington, near the city of Blenheim.

Related story: 6.8 quake felt across New Zealand