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First casualties from New Zealand earthquake 'confirmed' First casualties from New Zealand earthquake 'confirmed'
(35 minutes later)
The first casualties from the earthquake in New Zealand have been confirmed, a government minister has said. Indications have emerged of possible casualties from the powerful earthquake that hit New Zealand early on Monday, a government minister has said.
Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee reportedly confirmed the first casualties from the earthquake in the town of Kaikoura, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee reportedly confirmed the first casualties from the 7.8 earthquake in the town of Kaikoura on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, but added that the details were unclear.
The powerful 7.4 earthquake hit the country's South Island, causing a two-metre high tsunami. The earthquake hit the country's South Island at around 12am on Monday (11:02 GMT Sunday), with the epicentre recorded 57 miles north-northeast of Christchurch on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island.
Smaller but “very dangerous” waves later began to hit the coast near Wellington after a gauge at Kaikoura measured waves of 2 metres, according to local weather site Weather Watch. Shortly after the earthquake hit a two-metre high tsunami was recorded in Kaikoura on the east coast of the South Island, with smaller but “very dangerous” waves later hitting the coast near Wellington, according to local weather site Weather Watch.
A large earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 later struck northwestern Argentina, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. A large earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck northwestern Argentina hour later, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
More follows.. Local media reported emergency services in New Zealand were searching for a missing person in a collapsed house. A second person who had been thought missing in the building was found alive.
The roads to Kaikoura were cut and telephone services in the area were down, but ambulance services said they were trying to get their command unit to the town from Christchurch because of injury reports.
In Wellington, the capital, the natural disaster collapsed a ferry loading ramp, broke windows and caused items to fall from shelves, as well as forcing hundreds of tourists onto the streets as hotels were evacuated. 
The earthquake comes five years after a 6.3 earthquake that struck Christchurch in 2011, destroying much of the downtown area and killing 185 people. It was said to be one of New Zealand's worst disasters, causing an estimated $25 billion in damage.
Additional reporting from AP