(CNN) -- Buildings collapsed, power lines were knocked out and gas pipes ruptured when a powerful earthquake hit the northeastern coast of New Zealand late Thursday.
Despite widespread damage to buildings in Gisborne there were no reports of casualties.
Media reports in New Zealand, citing the government, listed the quake -- reportedly felt as far south as the city of Christchurch -- at 6.8 magnitude. The U.S. Geological Survey put it at 6.6.
There were no reports of serious injury or death from the quake near the coastal city of Gisborne. But local resident Phil Robinson, who recently moved to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, told Television New Zealand that the quake had caused serious damage to the city.
"Everything was bedlam for about 15 or 20 seconds," Robinson said. "We gather several properties in town have been damaged. It's had a serious effect on lots of people in the city."
Robinson said communications were "patchy" and it was difficult to make telephone calls on both landlines and cell phones.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management confirmed to The Associated Press that three buildings in Gisborne had collapsed.
"As far as we are aware, there are no injuries in those buildings," Vince Cholewa said. "Most of the damage is utilities -- gas, water and electricity."
Television New Zealand said there were no reported injuries and that despite suffering minor damage, Gisborne hospital was operating normally. The network reported eye witnesses saying the city of Gisborne was covered in glass.
Walker Vance, public information manager of Gisborne District Council, said there was no tsunami risk. He said people had attempted to get to higher ground because of tsunami fears but returned to their homes as they realized the threat had passed.
When asked how the quake had felt, he said it was "probably a series of three quick jolts, followed by a lull of a few seconds, followed by another two jolts." E-mail to a friend
Julie Clothier in Auckland contributed to this report.
A las 7:55 p.m. GMT (8:55, hora local) de hoy, un fuerte sismo de 6,8 en la escala sismológica de Richter, que duró varios segundos, sacudió a la costa este de Nueva Zelandia, cerca de la ciudad de Gisborne. También se reportó que el sismo se sintió hasta al sur del país, en la ciudad de Christchurch. El epicentro del temblor ocurrió a 40 km bajo el nivel del mar.

Se reportó que varios edificios colapsaron, que se crearon hoyos en las calles de Gisborne y que hubo un apagón de 45 minutos en dicha ciudad. Además, se reportaron muchos daños a utilidades públicas como los servicios de agua y electricidad, según Vince Cholewa, representante de prensa del Ministerio de Defensa Civil y Manejo de Emergencias de Nueva Zelandia. Todavía no se han reportado heridas serias.

Un representante de prensa de la policía de Nueva Zelandia dijo: "Hemos sufrido muchos daños y todavía estamos evaluando la situación".

Walker Vance, manejador de información del Consejo del Distrito de Gisborne, dijo que no había riesgo de tsunami y que la gente que había evacuado las costas para huir a una tierra más alta ya podía regresar a sus hogares.

Nueva Zelandia está situada en el Cinturón de Fuego del Pacífico, lo que causa que el país sufra actividad sísmica y volcánica frecuente.