WELLINGTON -- An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale shook the northern area of New Zealand's South Island Sunday, AFP quoted the Department of Geological and Nuclear Sciences as saying. There were no reports of damage. The quake hit at about 1:00 am (1:00 pm, May 4) about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) southeast of Karamea on the west coast at a depth of five kilometers, the department said. It could be felt in Wellington, about 220 kilometers away on the southern tip of North Island.