Passengers make their way around a giant eagle sculpture promoting "The Hobbit" movie trilogy which fell from the roof in the wake of a 6.3 magnitude earthquake at Wellington Airport in Wellington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. There are no reports of major damage or injuries for the quake, centered about 38 kilometers (24 miles) northeast of the town of Masterton at a depth of 27 kilometers (17 miles) although strong enough to damage some homes, trigger rockslides and road closures. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Hagen Hopkins) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT
January 19, 2014 - 10:21 PM
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - An earthquake in New Zealand on Monday shook loose a giant eagle sculpture promoting "The Hobbit" movie trilogy and caused other minor damage around the region.
The magnitude 6.3 quake struck the country's lower North Island at a little before 4 p.m. and rattled the capital Wellington. Many residents of the city were at home because it was a public holiday.
There were no initial reports of major damage or injuries, although the quake was strong enough to damage some homes, trigger rockslides and road closures, and knock items from shelves.
The eagle sculpture in the Wellington Airport was placed there in recent months to promote director Peter Jackson's second movie in his popular trilogy. It fell from its overhead perch to the floor.
The United States Geological Survey estimated the quake was centred about 38 kilometres (24 miles) northeast of the town of Masterton at a depth of 27 kilometres (17 miles).
New Zealand lies on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire," an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.
An earthquake in the city of Christchurch in 2011 destroyed much of the downtown and killed 185 people.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014