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| Magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes near Christchurch, New Zealand (PHOTOS, VIDEO) | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A powerful earthquake has hit northeast of Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. Authorities have issued a tsunami warning, urging people in the area to “move to high ground.” | A powerful earthquake has hit northeast of Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. Authorities have issued a tsunami warning, urging people in the area to “move to high ground.” |
| The quake was centered 46km from the town of Amberley with about 2,000 people, and 70km from the town of Kaiapoi with 10,000 residents, according to the USGS. | |
| The tremor, with a magnitude initially estimated at 7.4 before being scaled up to 7.8, had a shallow depth of 5km. | |
| The quake also took place 86km from the town of Christchurch which was struck by a powerful earthquake back in 2011. At least 185 people were killed and hundreds injured after the 6.3 magnitude quake hit the town. | The quake also took place 86km from the town of Christchurch which was struck by a powerful earthquake back in 2011. At least 185 people were killed and hundreds injured after the 6.3 magnitude quake hit the town. |
| NZ Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) issued a tsunami warning for the eastern coasts of North and South Islands. | |
| Shortly after that, Burwood Ward Councillor Glenn Livingstone wrote on Twitter that a “2m high tsunami” hit the town of Kaikoura and moved away from the coast. | |
| MCDEM warns the first wave may not be the largest, as tsunami activity is expected to continue for several hours. | |
| According to GeoNet online service, the magnitude of the quake is 6.6 with a depth of 16km. The service added that the "very large" tremor was felt through much of the country. This includes Taranaki, Hamilton and Auckland. | |
| At least three aftershocks with 6.2, 5.7 and 5.8 magnitudes struck South Island of New Zealand following the major quake. More aftershocks may follow. | |
| No significant damage has so far been reported, though photos posted on social media show overturned cupboards and crashed lamps. | |
| The tremor has been officially rated “severe,” the New Zealand Herald reported, adding that sirens can be heard in Wellington. There are reports that houses in the town of Cheviot have been badly damaged. | The tremor has been officially rated “severe,” the New Zealand Herald reported, adding that sirens can be heard in Wellington. There are reports that houses in the town of Cheviot have been badly damaged. |
| “I hope everyone is safe after the earthquake tonight. [New Zealand] Civil Defense is looking into the impact of the quake,” John Key, NZ Prime Minister wrote on Twitter. | “I hope everyone is safe after the earthquake tonight. [New Zealand] Civil Defense is looking into the impact of the quake,” John Key, NZ Prime Minister wrote on Twitter. |
| According to Wayne Timmo, a resident of the town of Hamilton, the quake felt like a “long slow, rolling or almost rotating motion.” | |
| “The water in the neighbor's swimming pool was left sloshing around for about a minute and people woken by the quake came out onto the street to talk about it,” he told Stuff.co.nz news website. | |
| “It really shook for a long time,” Jo Davis from the town of Nelson also told the news outlet. | |
| The quake damaged power lines in several neighborhoods and power may not be restored until morning. |