Sydney – Locals were being evacuated from many low-lying areas of New Zealand late on Sunday as the first wave of a tsunami reached the country’s eastern shores following a powerful earthquake.
The earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), with an epicentre some 91 kilometres north-east of the city of Christchurch.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management said said the earthquake had caused a tsunami and that the first wave had arrived in areas near Kaikoura and Wellington at the country’s north-eastern coast.
“The first wave activity may not be the most significant,” the ministry said.
“Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled.”
The powerful quake hit just after midnight (1100 GMT) causing strong jolts that could be felt more than 200 kilometres away in the capital, Wellington.
Tsunami warning after New Zealand earthquake – Following a massive earthquake in New Zealand, a tsunami warning has been issued by local authorities. Ruins could long be seen in the city of Christchurch, years after 185 were killed in 6.3-magnitude quake in 2011. Image: PJ Heller/ZUMAPRESS.com
Christchurch, the biggest city on New Zealand’s South Island, experienced a 6.3-magnitude quake in February 2011 that killed 185 people and caused widespread damage.
Aftershocks were ongoing after the initial quake, with the largest having a magnitude of 6.2, according to New Zealand GeoNet Project, which monitors geological hazards in the country.
The organization said that people in the worst-hit areas were “experiencing difficulty standing,” that furniture and appliances were shifting and that the temblor may have caused damage to weak buildings.
The ministry said those in low-lying areas on the east coast should get to higher grounds as soon as possible, and people should stay off beaches and out of the water in the rest of the country.
“Thousands of central city residents have been evacuated from Wellington,” local broadcaster Radio New Zealand reported.
Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said people were moving to higher ground from coastal areas around the city.
He said there were reports of quite a lot damage on the top floors of taller buildings, as well as to bridges and highways.
Alan Vincent, who was out on the water near the port town of Lyttelton when the quake struck, told Radio New Zealand that the earthquake felt like “giants shaking the living daylights out of the boat.”
Firefighter Chris Hill from the town of Cheviot said the roads were “a bit cut up” and that the quake was “long and rolling”.
Hotel guests in central Christchurch were also being evacuated and are standing outside in the city centre, it said.
There were no reports of injuries yet.
– dpa
