Watch: Animation shows cluster of earthquakes hitting the South Island this afternoon

A pair of earthquakes, magnitude 4.8 and 4.5, have struck the south of the West Coast this afternoon.

The first 4.5 magnitude quake hit 60 kilometres south of the town of Hokitika at 1.05pm today, at a depth of five kilometres

The second 4.8 magnitude quake hit in the same spot at 1.12pm today, at a depth of four kilometres. 

As of 1.50pm today 366 people had felt the two quakes that came in quick succession.