Strong earthquake rocked New Zealand, but tsunami warning lifted

A strong 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the eastern North Island of New Zealand on Friday, which caused a tsunami warning which was subsequently withdrawn, said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), Residents have been urged to remain vigilant.

“There is no more threat of a tsunami because of this earthquake”, PTWC said in a statement.

There are no reports of damage immediately, But National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) advised residents of some coastal areas to immediately move to higher terrain.

“Coastal flooding (flooding of land areas) is expected in areas subject to land and marine threats”, NEMA said in a tweet.

There was a threat to the capital, Wellington and other areas, but civil defense authorities have asked residents across the country to stay away from beaches and marine areas, because there could be strong and unusual currents.

The major city closest to the epicenter is Gisborne, with a population of approximately 35,500 inhabitants. Those close to shore, from Cape Runaway to Tolaga Bay, were asked to evacuate, an order which was later withdrawn.

“I hope everyone is doing well, especially on the East Coast, they would have felt the full force of this earthquake”, Posted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Instagram.

More than 60,000 people said they felt the earthquake on the GeoNet website, 282 rated the tremors as “severe” and 75 said they were “extreme”. Most of the others described it as light.

Aftershocks were still recorded in the region.

(With information from Reuters)

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