Strong earthquake jolts central New ZealandAugust 16, 2013 - 09:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A strong earthquake has shaken central New Zealand, disrupting traffic and sending office workers scrambling for cover in the capital, Belfast Telegraph said. Some buildings in Wellington were evacuated and items were knocked off shelves in places. Police are trying to verify reports that one house near the quake's centre was severely damaged. There were no initial reports of injuries. The magnitude 6.8 quake struck just after 2.30pm local time near the South Island town of Seddon and was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks. Boulders fell onto State Highway 1, the major route for traffic near Seddon, said police spokeswoman Barbara Dunn. She said she was trying to verify reports that one home in Seddon had been severely damaged. The US Geological Survey said the epicentre was 58 miles west of Wellington at a depth of six miles. Local authorities issued no tsunami warnings. A quake of a similar strength in the same area three weeks ago broke water mains, smashed windows and downed power lines. A severe earthquake in the city of Christchurch in 2011 killed 185 people and destroyed much of the city's centre. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |