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New Zealand earthquake: evacuations as tsunami heads for east coast – live New Zealand earthquake: evacuations as tsunami heads for east coast – live
(35 minutes later)
2.19pm GMT
14:19
This map provided by New Zealand civil defence shows the areas most threatened by tsunamis: the darker blue lines indicate those most vulnerable, which includes the Chatham Islands.
New Zealand’s coast from Christchurch up to Wellington is considered at greatest risk, though people right along the east coast are being advised to seek high ground, and residents across the whole of the country are being advised to avoid beaches and coastal areas.
Highest waves are expected between Marlborough and Banks Peninsula. There is a threat for all NZ coast. Stay off beaches. #eqnz pic.twitter.com/bkEbyKkCsd
2.15pm GMT
14:15
Eleanor Ainge Roy
Emily White, 29, in inner-city Wellington felt a long “swaying shake” that lasted for two minutes just after midnight. There was no damage to the house.
She and her two flatmates took shelter under their dining room table. Windows burst outside their doors, street lights swayed and aftershocks have been ongoing.
White and her flatmates have packed an emergency bag and are walking towards the war memorial. The streets are largely quiet, White reports, but others in Wellington are reporting increasing levels of car and foot traffic, heading to higher ground on Mt Victoria and to the national war memorial in Mt Cook:
It is the strongest quake I have ever felt; it was really un-nerving.
We weren’t sure if we should leave. We are in a pretty solid modern apartment house, but we are basically on the flat in Wellington so we’re leaving.
2.12pm GMT
14:12
Dunedin civil defence emergency management (CDEM) has declared a state of emergency.
Dunedin is at the far south of South Island, and not immediately close to the first quake, though aftershocks have been felt there.
The city’s CDEM has announced it will be “evacuating parts of low-lying coastal communities including Waikouaiti, Karitane, Waitati, Warrington Domain, Long Beach, Aramoana, Harwood/Harrington Point, Hoopers Inlet, Tomahawk, and Ocean View/Brighton”.
It has warned residents not to go to beaches or into the water.
2.07pm GMT
14:07
Wellington’s parliament building has become an unlikely overnight stay for some evacuated hotel guests:
Meanwhile evacuated guests from a nearby hotel have been taken in at Parliament. Currently being hosted in the Beehive ground floor lobby
(It’s called the Beehive because it looks a bit like a beehive.)
Parliament's civil defence bunker is up and running. Staff currently coming in
Word from Parly staff is the main building has come through fine "safest place to be"
2.04pm GMT
14:04
Even now, further quakes are rattling Kaikoura:
M4.4 quake causing moderate shaking near Kaikoura https://t.co/jK6xbDR2M8
2.00pm GMT
14:00
Eleanor Ainge Roy
A tsunami alert has been issued for Lower Hutt in the Wellington region, and tsunami sirens are ringing on the streets. The immediate foreshore area is a red zone risk.
The major areas of concern are Kaikoura and low-lying Wellington (CBD, Island Bay, Petone, Seatoun).
In Kaikoura, South Island, best known as the east coast whale-watching town north of Christchurch, road access has been cut off and residents have been moved away from the seaside to the hills.
Barry and Kathy O’Loughlin (72 and 74) live one street from the beach in Kaikoura. They have been evacuated to higher ground. Their daughter Sharon O’Loughlin, who is in Dunedin in the far south, has lost phone contact with her elderly parents but says they are “fit and strong” members of the community and would have left no one behind:
The last I heard was their house was a shambles. I spoke to Mum just as she was leaving and then the phone was cut off.
They have lost road access like they did after the Christchurch earthquake.
I am really upset, they are surrounded by water on all sides and I don’t know where the tsunami threat is coming from.
1.53pm GMT
13:53
Tsunami warning sirens are sounding along the east coast.
This is from Clifton Hill looking down on Redcliffs, a seaside suburb of Christchurch, the closest city to the epicentre. (Thanks to @CodeClubNZ.)
And the terrifying sound... #eqnz pic.twitter.com/QZLiGpxuTK
1.47pm GMT
13:47
Aftershocks – some topping 6 magnitude themselves – followed the initial shake and continue across both islands, more than two-and-a-half hours after the first temblor.
Quakes were felt as far south as Dunedin and as far north as Auckland.
Residents in Wellington, North Island, have also been advised to move to higher ground because of the threat of tsunami.
1.42pm GMT1.42pm GMT
13:4213:42
The first quake was recorded at 7.5 magnitude by Geonet, New Zealand’s authority on temblors.The first quake was recorded at 7.5 magnitude by Geonet, New Zealand’s authority on temblors.
The epicentre was 15 km north-east of Culverden, close to Hanmer Springs, at 12.02am local time (New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of GMT).The epicentre was 15 km north-east of Culverden, close to Hanmer Springs, at 12.02am local time (New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of GMT).
Geonet recorded the depth at 15 km.Geonet recorded the depth at 15 km.
1.36pm GMT1.36pm GMT
13:3613:36
Our news story on the earthquake is also being updated and you can see the latest report here:Our news story on the earthquake is also being updated and you can see the latest report here:
1.35pm GMT1.35pm GMT
13:3513:35
Residents of coastal areas along the whole east coast of New Zealand – North as well as South Island, where the initial quake hit – have been told to head for high ground.Residents of coastal areas along the whole east coast of New Zealand – North as well as South Island, where the initial quake hit – have been told to head for high ground.
New Zealand’s civil defence also warns that a tsunami is heading for the Chatham Islands, some 680km southeast of NZ.New Zealand’s civil defence also warns that a tsunami is heading for the Chatham Islands, some 680km southeast of NZ.
If you live on low-lying ground within one kilometre of the Christchurch coastline, you are advised to evacuate inland or to higher ground.If you live on low-lying ground within one kilometre of the Christchurch coastline, you are advised to evacuate inland or to higher ground.
1.29pm GMT1.29pm GMT
13:2913:29
What we know so farWhat we know so far
We will have more information on the quake and tsunami on the live blog.We will have more information on the quake and tsunami on the live blog.
You can contact me directly on @Claire_Phipps if you are affected by the quake.You can contact me directly on @Claire_Phipps if you are affected by the quake.