5.2-magnitude earthquake hits NZ's South Island

WELLINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale hit Fiordland, New Zealand's lower South Island, early Tuesday morning.

It is the biggest aftershock in some weeks following the 7.6 quake in the region last month, the New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) reported.

The quake, hit just before 05:00 a.m. (17:00 GMT Monday) and was centered 120 km west of Tuatapere. It was at a depth of 12 km.