Powerful 7,1 magnitude earthquake jolts off New Zealand

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WELLINGTON -- Residents in New Zealand North Island are urged to stay away from the water by Civil Defence following a 7.1-magnitude earthquake early Friday morning. The quake, which occurred at 4:37 a.m. local time (1637 GMT Thursday), was centred 130 km northeast of Te Araroa in the North Island with a depth of 55 km, according to the governments GeoNet monitoring service. GeoNet recorded strong aftershocks, including a 6.0-magnitude quake. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management of New Zealand cancelled a tsunami marine and beach threat warning issued shortly after the quake. The Ministry said, although the…