Giant eagle sculpture falls from airport ceiling after New Zealand earthquake

A giant eagle sculpture promoting The Hobbit movie trilogy fell from the roof in the wake of a 6.3 magnitude earthquake at Wellington Airport in New Zealand on Monday.

The sculpture, celebrating Peter Jackson's movies, could have severely injured passengers.

There are no reports of major damage or injuries following the quake, although it was strong enough to damage some homes, trigger rockslides close roads.

The earthquake occurred in the North Island, about 71 miles north east of the capital Wellingotn. It centred about 24 miles northeast of the town of Masterton at a depth of 17 miles.

English expatriate Gary Ellis, who lives in Wellington, told Sky News it was a "good jolt" that lasted for two or three seconds. He said: "A lot of panic does set in because you just don't know [how bad it is]."

But Wellington Region Emergency Management group controller Bruce Pepperell said very little damage had been reported in the Wellington region, but there was damage closer to the epicentre in Wairarapa.

He told the NZ Herald: "There's no serious injuries or deaths over there, but they got a very severe jolt. It has caused some isolated damage with stuff coming off shelves and things like that."

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