In September, a strong 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the east coast of New Zealand, generating a small tsunami, but no significant damage or injuries were reported.
A rescue effort is underway to save 3 cows whose paddock disappeared in the NZ earthquake https://t.co/tC2sjk2BIN pic.twitter.com/cWlyW81GxV
— Dr Chris Brown (@BondiVet) November 14, 2016
New Zealand is on the boundary of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, which form part of the so-called “Ring of Fire”, and experiences up to 15,000 tremors a year.Scores of severe aftershocks have hit.
The cost of the clean-up has been estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
People living along the coast have been warned to move to higher ground – with the first waves already hitting the north east coast of South Island. Waves are now slamming into Christchurch in a barrage predicted to last hours.
The tsunami threat is for the east coast of all New Zealand including Christchurch, Wellington and the Chatham islands – people across the entire country have been told to stay off beaches.
People living near the Clarence River, north of Kaikoura, were told to evacuate after a dam breach. A group of kayakers, and another group of 16 rafters, have been found safe.
