5.1 earthquake east of Ruatoria

The quake was centred 170km east of Ruatoria, 230 km north-east of Gisborne. Photo / Thinkstock

A 5.1 magnitude quake has struck out at sea, off the East Coast.

GNS Science says the tremor was 170 kilometres east of Ruatoria and may have been felt in the northern part of East Cape.

The quake occurred at 5.10 this afternoon, at a depth of 33 kilometres.