Earthquake

The quake, measuring magnitude 4.1, struck 15km northwest of Wellington just after 2.30am.

Geonet said the quake caused light shaking across the region.

More than 2100 people reported feeling the quake from as far afield as Bay of Plenty and Christchurch.

Many living in the Wellington region described it as a noisy quake that could be heard several seconds before it struck.

"I was already awake working and heard it coming. Rumble then shake," posted Tracy Wellington.

It struck 32km (20mi) south-west of the Iraqi town of Halabja, the USGS said.

Iranian state media said it was felt in several provinces, with eight villages damaged and electricity cut.

Kurdish TV also said many people in Iraqi Kurdistan fled their homes when it struck but there were no initial reports of casualties.

The earthquake struck just before 21:20 local time in Baghdad (18:20 GMT) at a depth of 33.9 km.

Another powerful quake struck near Kirakira this morning - a 6.7 magnitude quake at a depth of 33km.

The undersea quake hit 71km west of the city of Kirakira, which is on the country's biggest island, Makira.

Director of the National Disaster Management Office Loti Yates said there was no tsunami threat from this morning's quake but he was expecting more reports of damage.

Mr Yates said multiple quakes of magnitude 5 and above have hampered relief operations still underway in the Makira area.

The USGS said the quake was at a depth of 15.2 kilometres and an aftershock measuring magnitude-5.7 had also been recorded.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has withdrawn a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific located 300 kilometres from the epicentre.

Radio New Zealand reported people had been evacuating the Fijian tourist hub of Nadi since the earthquake struck.

There have been no reports of damage or injury from Fiji.

RNZ reports disaster authorities said around 200 buildings had been destroyed or damaged in the provinces of Makira & Ulawa, Malaita and Guadalcanal.

Among them were 11 schools and a medical clinic.

Some dwellings were also hit by waves generated by Friday's 7-point-8 magnitude quake and Saturday's 6-point-9 aftershock.

The country director for World Vision Solomon Islands Janes Ginting said the tremors had left communities very nervous.

Kaniva News reports the quake had a depth of 16km and it struck 20km southeast of Hanmer Springs.

But the New Zealand Civil Defence has revised the first earthquake to a magnitude 7.5, 15km deep, 15 km north-east of Culverden.

It was strongly felt in Christchurch, Wellington, Taranaki, Hamilton and Auckland.

New Zealand Civil Defence is advising all people in coastal areas of the country to move inland to higher ground after a severe magnitude 7.5 earthquake which struck in the South Island.

RNZ reports the quake struck at a depth of 10km, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, in New Caledonia.

A warning was issued for Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji, but the Hawaii-based centre now says the threat has passed.

However, it still advised people in the area to exercise caution near the sea, as minor fluctuations can occur in coastal areas.

There have so far been no reports of damaged.

The quake hit 277 kms (172.12 miles) south-southeast of the capital Nuku'alofa at a depth of 66 kms, the USGS said.

Earlier USGS tweeted the preliminary reading of the quake to be 5.8.  

Ecuador's strongest earthquake in decades killed at least 41 people and caused damage near the epicentre as well as in the largest city of Guayaquil.

RNZI reports President Rafael Correa declared a national emergency and urged the nation's 16 million people to stay calm.

The earthquake hit at 35km West-North-West of Havelu, Tonga.

The quake has been widely felt across the mainland Tongatapu, with reports of shaking from as far afield as Hahake  and Hihifo