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New Zealand earthquake: Two dead following powerful tremor New Zealand earthquake: Two dead following powerful tremor
(about 1 hour later)
Two people have died after a powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island. A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake has struck New Zealand's South Island, killing at least two people.
Prime Minister John Key said further details were not yet known. The quake hit just after midnight on Monday (11:02 GMT on Sunday), north-east of Christchurch.
The US Geological Survey said it hit just after midnight (11:02 GMT on Sunday), some 95km (59 miles) from Christchurch. It was felt as far afield as the capital Wellington on the North Island, 120 miles (200km) away.
A tsunami arrived about two hours later. Officials warned everyone along the eastern coast to head inland or for higher ground.A tsunami arrived about two hours later. Officials warned everyone along the eastern coast to head inland or for higher ground.
A gauge at Kaikoura, 181 km (112 miles) north of Christchurch, measured a wave of 2.5m (8ft 2ins) in the early hours of the morning, according to Weatherwatch.co.nz. Police said one person died in the town of Kaikoura on the eastern coast, which has been cut off by road and where electric power is out and phones are down.
Another died in Mount Lyford, a ski resort nearby. It is not yet clear how they were killed.
Tsunami waves
A gauge at Kaikoura, 181 km (112 miles) north of Christchurch, measured a wave of 2.5m (8ft 2ins) in the early hours of the morning, according to Weatherwatch.co.nz.
At one point, the ministry of civil defence suggested tsunami waves as tall as five metres could hit the eastern coast.At one point, the ministry of civil defence suggested tsunami waves as tall as five metres could hit the eastern coast.
But by just after 08:00 local time (19:00 GMT), the warning was scaled back to a "marine and beach threat" with waves of just one metre along a small stretch of coast, including the Chatham Islands, an archipelago 423 miles (680km) south-east of the mainland. But just after 08:00 local time (19:00 GMT), the warning was scaled back to a "marine and beach threat" with waves of just one metre along a small stretch of coast.
Speaking to reporters in the capital Wellington on Monday morning, Mr Key said there had been very little communication from the most affected areas, like Kaikoura and Culverden. Aftershocks continued throughout Monday morning. Many schools and offices stayed closed while engineers checked the buildings, and ferries and trains were cancelled.
Speaking to reporters in the capital Wellington on Monday, Mr Key said there had been very little communication from the most affected areas, like Kaikoura and Culverden.
"We don't have any indications at the moment to believe [the death toll] will rise, but we can't rule that out," Mr Key said, adding that a military helicopter was being dispatched to Kaikoura."We don't have any indications at the moment to believe [the death toll] will rise, but we can't rule that out," Mr Key said, adding that a military helicopter was being dispatched to Kaikoura.
Aerial images show tunnels along the coastal highway close to Kaikoura, a popular tourist destination, covered by a landslide. Other pictures of the devastated area show at least one collapsed home.Aerial images show tunnels along the coastal highway close to Kaikoura, a popular tourist destination, covered by a landslide. Other pictures of the devastated area show at least one collapsed home.
St John's Ambulance had also sent medical assistance to the area.
"We are starting to get reports of injuries from the earthquake area, including Culverden area and Kaikoura," St John's Ambulance Dion Rosario said in a statement released a few hours after the earthquake struck.
"However, at this stage we do not have specifics."
New Zealanders are used to earthquakes. The country lies on the notorious Ring of Fire, the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.New Zealanders are used to earthquakes. The country lies on the notorious Ring of Fire, the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.
Christchurch is still recovering from the 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people and destroyed the city centre. Christchurch is still recovering from a 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people and destroyed the city centre.
Early reports suggested some houses in Cheviot town, near the epicentre, have been damaged.
But Chris Hill, a fire officer in Cheviot, said officials had gone door to door evacuating residents and found "everyone seems okay".
He told RadioNZ: "There's a lot of debris in houses, but at this stage it doesn't look like anything too bad has happened."
A resident of Christchurch said the tremor lasted a "long" time.A resident of Christchurch said the tremor lasted a "long" time.
"We were asleep and woken to the house shaking, it kept going and going and felt like it was going to build up," she told AFP news agency."We were asleep and woken to the house shaking, it kept going and going and felt like it was going to build up," she told AFP news agency.
On Twitter, Hayley Colgan described it as "the most terrifying earthquake I think I've felt in my 23 years in New Zealand".On Twitter, Hayley Colgan described it as "the most terrifying earthquake I think I've felt in my 23 years in New Zealand".
A magnitude-7.1 quake struck 169km (105 miles) north-east of Gisborne on the North Island in September, sparking a tsunami warning. It caused some damage to property, but no injuries.A magnitude-7.1 quake struck 169km (105 miles) north-east of Gisborne on the North Island in September, sparking a tsunami warning. It caused some damage to property, but no injuries.
Are you in New Zealand? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience of the earthquake.Are you in New Zealand? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience of the earthquake.
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