New Zealand issues tsunami warning after huge quake

An earthquake of magnitude 7.8 has struck near Christchurch, New Zealand, triggering a tsunami with 2.5m high waves. The quake, which lasted for two minutes, struck in darkness in the early hours of Monday morning in Christchurch which was reduced to rubble by an earthquake just five years ago.

Published: November 14, 2016, 11:05 am

    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.

    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.

    karin@praag.org

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