Earthquake strikes near Christchurch, New Zealand
Updated | By News24, AFP
A powerful earthquake has struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch, with strong jolts felt over 200km away in the capital, Wellington.
There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.
The magnitude-7.4 quake struck just after midnight on Sunday and was centered 93km northeast of Christchurch, according to the US Geological Survey. It was at a relatively shallow depth of 10km.
Earthquakes tend to be more strongly felt on the surface when they're shallow.
New Zealand sits on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common. An earthquake in 2011 in Christchurch killed 185 people.
Meanwhile, the country has issued a tsunami warning for southern coastal areas, following the powerful earthquake.
"A tsunami is possible," the national civil defence organisation, which is in charge of New Zealand's emergency management, said in a bulletin.
"The first wave activity may not be the most significant," it said, adding tsumanmi activity would continue for several hours.
#eqnz pic.twitter.com/wxAr9hbpFi
— Ayman (@aymanalsefri) November 13, 2016
The tsunami threat is for the entire NZ coastline. Stay off beaches. First waves have arrived but may not be the largest. pic.twitter.com/dVLM2w5Pxy
— MCDEM (@NZcivildefence) November 13, 2016
Cheers for the concern all, everyone's ok. Here's the kitchen... #eqnz pic.twitter.com/moGd0zTaKj
— Richard Bicknell (@dickbicknell) November 13, 2016
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