Three moderate earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 5.0 to 5.1, struck southern New Zealand early Thursday — the latest of hundreds of aftershocks since a 7.8-magnitude quake in mid-July, seismologists reported.

Emergency services said there were no immediate reports of injury or damage from the latest quakes in the Fiordland region of South Island.

A magnitude-5.1 quake struck off South Island's west coast just before 8 a.m. (2000 GMT Thursday), said government geological agency, GNS Science. It was followed in the next few hours by two magnitude-5.0 temblors.

GNS Science said hundreds of aftershocks have been recorded in the sparsely populated region following the powerful 7.8-magnitude quake on July 15, the strongest recorded in the world so far this year.

Geologists confirmed last week that the power unleashed by the quake twisted South Island out of shape, moving its southwest tip 12 inches (30 centimeters) closer to Australia. It also generated a small local tsunami wave about 8 inches (20 centimeters) high.

New Zealand's Earthquake Commission said Thursday the cost of damage from the big quake and its aftershocks could rise to $4 million (6 million New Zealand dollars).

Commission insurance manager Lance Dixon said $2.3 million worth of claims for damaged property have been filed.

New Zealand sits above an area of the Earth's crust where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates collide and records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, though only about 150 are felt by residents. Fewer than 10 temblors a year do any damage.