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New Zealand earthquake: Tsunami follows powerful tremor New Zealand earthquake: Two dead following powerful tremor
(about 1 hour later)
A tsunami has hit after an earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island. Two people have died after a powerful magnitude-7.8 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. Prime Minister John Key said further details were not yet known.
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 US Geological Survey said it hit just after midnight (11:02 GMT on Sunday), some 95km (59 miles) from Christchurch.
Residents were warned to head inland or for higher ground along the coast. A tsunami arrived about two hours later. Officials warned everyone along the eastern coast to head inland or for higher ground.
TerrifyingTerrifying
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) in the early hours of the morning, according to Weatherwatch.co.nz.
Smaller waves are said to be arriving in Wellington and other areas, the website said. Kaikoura is understood to be one of the worst affected areas.
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. At one point, the ministry of civil defence suggested tsunami waves as tall as 5m could hit the eastern coast
Residents in the Chatham Islands, an archipelago 423 miles (680km) south-east of the mainland, were also being warned a wave would hit. But by 05:30 local time (16:30 GMT), the warning was scaled back to waves of 3m in certain areas, including the Chatham Islands, an archipelago 423 miles (680km) south-east of the mainland.
Helicopters with medical and rescue personnel are being sent near the epicentre of the quake.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."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.""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 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."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.
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:
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