This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8151530.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
Quake sparks NZ-Australia alert | Quake sparks NZ-Australia alert |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Tsunami warnings were issued earlier for parts of New Zealand and south-east Australia after a powerful earthquake. | |
The tremor struck around the tip of New Zealand's South Island, generating warnings of a low-level tsunami. | The tremor struck around the tip of New Zealand's South Island, generating warnings of a low-level tsunami. |
People in coastal areas were advised to move to higher ground, but there were no reports of major damage or injuries. | People in coastal areas were advised to move to higher ground, but there were no reports of major damage or injuries. |
New Zealand said the quake, west of Invercargill, measured 7.8 magnitude, and a second quake about 20 minutes later measured 6.1. | |
New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences initially recorded the first quake at 6.6 magnitude, before upgrading it. | |
The initial tremor struck 5km (3 miles) below ground in the remote Fiordland region at 2122 (0922 GMT), said the government institute, though US experts said it was much deeper. | |
'Cracks in buildings' | |
New Zealand issued a tsunami warning for a string of its coastal towns and cities, but later cancelled it. | New Zealand issued a tsunami warning for a string of its coastal towns and cities, but later cancelled it. |
The whole house was moving, the door was moving in the doorframe, and the fence posts were moving Simon WilsonInvercargill householder class="" href="/2/hi/in_depth/2059330.stm">History of deadly earthquakes class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/4126809.stm">How earthquakes happen class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/7533972.stm">Animated guide: Tsunamis | |
Australia also scrapped its alert, but had said a tsunami was detected in the Tasman Sea heading towards the country's south-east coast. | |
The warning was downgraded to a "small boat alert" after about an hour, although officials had earlier been concerned it could bring coastal flooding. | |
The tremor lasted at least a minute and was felt as a rolling motion across New Zealand's South Island, according to reports. | The tremor lasted at least a minute and was felt as a rolling motion across New Zealand's South Island, according to reports. |
Local media said the quake caused minor cracks in some buildings and sent stock tumbling from supermarket shelves. | Local media said the quake caused minor cracks in some buildings and sent stock tumbling from supermarket shelves. |
People ran from restaurants in Queenstown as buildings shook, reports New Zealand's Herald newspaper. Power and phone lines were severed in some places. | People ran from restaurants in Queenstown as buildings shook, reports New Zealand's Herald newspaper. Power and phone lines were severed in some places. |
"The whole house was moving, the door was moving in the doorframe, and the fence posts were moving," Invercargill resident Simon Wilson told Radio New Zealand. | "The whole house was moving, the door was moving in the doorframe, and the fence posts were moving," Invercargill resident Simon Wilson told Radio New Zealand. |
Another Invercargill householder said his wife and their three young children huddled under the dining table during the quake, reported the New Zealand Press Association. | Another Invercargill householder said his wife and their three young children huddled under the dining table during the quake, reported the New Zealand Press Association. |
New Zealand records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, but only about 150 are felt by residents and fewer than 10 annually cause damage. | New Zealand records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, but only about 150 are felt by residents and fewer than 10 annually cause damage. |