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New Zealand earthquake: Tsunami follows powerful tremor | New Zealand earthquake: Tsunami follows powerful tremor |
(35 minutes later) | |
A tsunami has hit after an earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island. | A tsunami has hit after an earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island. |
The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.8 quake hit just after midnight (11:02 GMT on Sunday), some 95km (59 miles) from Christchurch. | The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.8 quake hit just after midnight (11:02 GMT on Sunday), some 95km (59 miles) from Christchurch. |
The tsunami arrived in the north-eastern coast about two hours later. Officials said the first waves may not be the largest, with tsunami activity possible for several hours. | The tsunami arrived in the north-eastern coast about two hours later. Officials said the first waves may not be the largest, with tsunami activity possible for several hours. |
Residents were warned to head inland or for higher ground along the coast. | Residents were warned to head inland or for higher ground along the coast. |
Terrifying | Terrifying |
A gauge at Kaikoura, 181 km (112 miles) north of Christchurch, measured a wave of 2.5m (8ft 2ins), according to Weatherwatch.co.nz. | A gauge at Kaikoura, 181 km (112 miles) north of Christchurch, measured a wave of 2.5m (8ft 2ins), according to Weatherwatch.co.nz. |
Smaller waves are said to be arriving in Wellington and other areas, the website said. | Smaller waves are said to be arriving in Wellington and other areas, the website said. |
But the ministry of civil defence has said the highest waves, which could be as tall as 5m are expected between Malborough, the north-eastern tip of the South Island, and Banks Peninsula, just south of Christchurch. | But the ministry of civil defence has said the highest waves, which could be as tall as 5m are expected between Malborough, the north-eastern tip of the South Island, and Banks Peninsula, just south of Christchurch. |
Residents in the Chatham Islands, an archipelago 423 miles (680km) south-east of the mainland, were also being warned a wave would hit. | |
Helicopters with medical and rescue personnel are being sent near the epicentre of the quake. | |
"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. | |
"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. | |
Christchurch is still recovering from the 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people and destroyed the city centre. | Christchurch is still recovering from the 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. | 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". | 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." | 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. | |
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. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |