A magnitude-7.8 earthquake has struck near the city of Christchurch in New Zealand, generating a tsunami and causing widespread damage along the northeast coast of the South Island.
Waves of up to three to five metres could be possible in areas close to the epicentre for up to two hours after the earthquake,
A large fissure runs along Kaikoura Road about two hours north of Christchurch
Radio New Zealand said the Wellington City Council had received multiple reports of significant damage.
Local media reported landslips and extensive damage to roads.
A series of aftershocks were recorded around the country, some as strong as magnitude-6.1.
Authorities rush to respond
The New Zealand police said they had responded to hundreds of emergency calls after the quake temporarily knocked out New Zealand's emergency call number, 111.
A gauge at Kaikoura, 181 km (112 miles) north of Christchurch, measured a wave of 2.5m (8ft 2ins) in the early hours of the morning,
At one point, the ministry of civil defence suggested tsunami waves as tall as 5m could hit the eastern coast
"We are starting to get reports of injuries from the earthquake area, including Culverden area and Kaikoura," St John's Ambulance Dion Rosario said in a statement released a few hours after the earthquake struck.
A Super Market in my Home town , Nelson.....
K.J.
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From Coast to Coast, We'll see it all.......One Day
I just watched the Sky news and they still have a Tsunami alert for the east coastal region and the Chatham Islands. So far there have been 2 reported fatalities with the original quake being centred near the beautiful little spa town of Hanmer Springs, strong after shocks are still occurring. I hope things don't get any worse for the people in this area as they have really suffered enough over the last few years with earthquakes.
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 14th of November 2016 06:44:38 AM
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 14th of November 2016 08:13:40 AM
