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Tsunami hits N. Zealand after powerful earthquake, aftershocks (PHOTOS) | 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. | 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. |
READ MORE: Destruction caused by New Zealand earthquake captured on camera (VIDEOS, PHOTOS) | READ MORE: Destruction caused by New Zealand earthquake captured on camera (VIDEOS, PHOTOS) |
The tremor, with a magnitude initially estimated at 7.4 before being scaled up to 7.8, had a depth of 23km, according to the US Geological Survey. New Zealand's Civil Defense puts the depth at 15km. | |
It was centered 46km from the town of Amberley with about 2,000 people, 70km from the town of Kaiapoi with 10,000 residents and 91km north-northeast of Christchurch. | It was centered 46km from the town of Amberley with about 2,000 people, 70km from the town of Kaiapoi with 10,000 residents and 91km north-northeast of Christchurch. |
NZ Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management (MCDEM) issued a tsunami warning for the eastern coasts of North and South Islands, saying waves of 3-5 meters can be expected. | NZ Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management (MCDEM) issued a tsunami warning for the eastern coasts of North and South Islands, saying waves of 3-5 meters can be expected. |
WeatherWatch.co.nz reports that a “sizeable tsunami wave of around 2 meters” has been recorded in Kaikoura. | WeatherWatch.co.nz reports that a “sizeable tsunami wave of around 2 meters” has been recorded in Kaikoura. |
“Now much smaller, but still very dangerous, tsunami waves are showing up in [the cities of] Wellington, Castlepoint,” the website added. | “Now much smaller, but still very dangerous, tsunami waves are showing up in [the cities of] Wellington, Castlepoint,” the website added. |
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. | 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. | "That's reasonably significant so people should take this seriously," she added. |
Chris Hill from Cheviot, which is located along the coast, said officials went door to door evacuating residents. | Chris Hill from Cheviot, which is located along the coast, said officials went door to door evacuating residents. |
“Everyone seems OK here,” he told RNZ. “There's a lot of debris in houses, but at this stage it doesn't look like anything too bad has happened.” | “Everyone seems OK here,” he told RNZ. “There's a lot of debris in houses, but at this stage it doesn't look like anything too bad has happened.” |
At least ten aftershocks with magnitudes from 4.9 to 6.2 have struck South Island of New Zealand, USGS reports - while the NZ Herald tweets of more than 45 follow-up quakes. | At least ten aftershocks with magnitudes from 4.9 to 6.2 have struck South Island of New Zealand, USGS reports - while the NZ Herald tweets of more than 45 follow-up quakes. |
There are reports that houses in the towns of Kaikoura and Cheviot have been badly damaged. | There are reports that houses in the towns of Kaikoura and 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. | 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. |
Back in 2011, Christchurch was struck by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 185 people and injured hundreds. | Back in 2011, Christchurch was struck by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 185 people and injured hundreds. |