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Tsunami hits N. Zealand after powerful earthquake, aftershocks (PHOTOS) | |
(35 minutes later) | |
New Zealand authorities have issued a tsunami warning, urging people along the entire east coast to move inland or to high ground, after a powerful earthquake hit northeast of Christchurch, the biggest city on South Island. | |
The tremor, with a magnitude initially estimated at 7.4 before being scaled up to 7.8, had a shallow depth of 23km, according to the US Geological Survey. | |
It was centered 46km from the town of Amberley with about 2,000 people, and 70km from the town of Kaiapoi with 10,000 residents. | |
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 Defense and Emergency Management (MCDEM) issued a tsunami warning for the eastern coasts of North and South Islands. | |
Shortly after that, Burwood Ward Councilor 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. | MCDEM warns the first wave may not be the largest, as tsunami activity is expected to continue for several hours. |
A surge of up to one meter was recorded in North Canterbury region of the South Island, Anna Kaiser, a seismologist at GNS Science told Radio New Zealand. | |
"That's reasonably significant so people should take this seriously," she added. | |
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. | 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. |
The tremor has been officially rated “severe,” the New Zealand Herald reported, adding that sirens could be heard in the capital of 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. |
In Wellington, 214km from the quake's epicenter, some windows and chimneys were smashed and the power was knocked out in several places, AP reported. | |
According to Wayne Timmo, a resident of the town of Hamilton, the quake felt like a “long slow, rolling or almost rotating motion.” | 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. | “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. | “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. | The quake damaged power lines in several neighborhoods and power may not be restored until morning. |