Two quakes shake East Coast

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Two earthquakes have rocked the East Coast area this afternoon but there have been no reports of damage.

The first quake struck at 1.18pm and was located 10km south of Tokomaru Bay, which is 90km north of Gisborne.

The quake was centred 20km deep and measured 4.5 on the Richter Scale.

That was followed just 12 minutes later by a magnitude 3.7 quake 40km west of Gisborne and centred 40km deep.

Bruce, of the Tokomaru Bay Four Square, said he felt the first quake as a sharp jolt, followed by a rolling motion for five or six seconds.

"[But] nothing fell off the shelves," he told NZPA.

GNS Science said the quakes were probably felt throughout the region.

- NZPA