Three earthquakes have rocked the North Island of New Zealand sparking a tsunami warning.
A 7.3-magnitude quake was recorded at 2.27am east of the North Island, before another 7.4-magnitude tremor was recorded near the Kermadec Islands four hours later.
An 8.0 magnitude earthquake was then recorded in the same area leading authorities to issue a tsunami warning to the east coast.
Residents from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay and Wakatane, Opotiki and Great Barrier Island have been told to evacuate from their homes.
The earthquake was so strong a tsunami warning has also been issued for Hawaii, which is almost 7,500 kilometres away from New Zealand.
An 8.1 magnitude earthquake was then recorded in the same area leading authorities to issue a tsunami warning to the east coast
TSUNAMI WARNING issued following Kermadecs earthquake. People near coast from the BAY OF ISLANDS to WHANGAREI, from MATATA to TOLAGA BAY, and GREAT BARRIER ISLAND must MOVE IMMEDIATELY to nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible.
TSUNAMI WARNING: Areas that need to evacuate are indicated on this map. Evacuate these areas even if you did not feel the earthquake. DO NOT WAIT. A damaging tsunami is possible.
New Zealand NEMA
A Tsunami Watch has also been issued for parts of the coast at Samoa with beachgoers advised to stay away from the water.
New Zealand residents were sent an emergency alert on their phones, urging them to leave their homes immediately.
'People in coastal areas must leave immediately out of all evacuation zones and move to high ground or as far inland as possible,' the message reads.
'Do not stay at home. Walk, run or cycle if you can. Take only essential items (and pets) with you and share this information if it does not delay you.'
The first wave is expected to reach the top of New Zealand at 10.20am.
'Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges near the shore are expected in other coastal areas,' the National Emergency Management tweeted.
'Stay out of the water.'
The National Emergency Management Agency has also urged residents outside of the evacuation zones to also seek higher ground.
'People in all other areas who felt a long or strong earthquake that made it hard to stand up, or lasted longer than a minute, should move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible,' the agency said.
Whakatane Coastguard's Craig said his entire town was evacuating following the emergency warning.
Terrified residents on the North Island of New Zealand captured their homes shaking as the island was hit by several earthquakes on Friday
Photos captured drivers queuing in traffic as they try to leave the town of Whangerei
The National Emergency Management Agency has urged residents in the depicted areas to leave their homes and seek higher ground
Locals are seen gathering on high ground at Whangerei after they were texted an emergency alert on Friday
'I'm leaving right now. The whole town is evacuating. We are sensible down here,' he said.
Photos have captured drivers queuing in traffic as they try to leave the town of Whangerei.
Other residents chose to flee the town by foot with some locals seen taking their pets with them.
Ruakākā resident Rhys Owen drove up the main road to a friend's house and said it took 35 minutes, instead of the usual five.
The National Emergency Management Agency earlier issued a separate tsunami warning for the North Island before downgrading it to a national advisory of tsunami activity at 5am then withdrawing it at 6am.
'Based on GNS Science's modelling and ocean observations on tide gauges and the New Zealand DART Buoys, our science advice is that the threat of strong and unusual currents has now passed for all parts of New Zealand,' the agency said.
An emergency alert was texted to residents following an 8.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of New Zealand
Other residents chose to flee Whangerei by foot with some locals seen taking their pets with them
'Thank you to everyone who evacuated when you felt a long or strong earthquake this morning. You did the right thing.'
The first quake was also much more dramatic for residents on the North Island, who described a 'very long, swaying shake' and houses making 'cracking sounds' in a tremor which some thought had lasted for as long as a minute.
Okay, like literally the entire country felt that,' one shocked resident said on social media. 'That is terrifying.'
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern took to Instagram following the earthquake.
'Hope everyone is ok out there - especially on the east coast who would have felt the full force of that earthquake,' Ms Jacinda Ardern said.
More than 60,000 people reported feeling the quake on seismic monitor GeoNet, with a few hundred describing the shaking as 'severe' and 75 calling it 'extreme'.
Hope everyone is ok out there - especially on the East Coast who would have felt the full force of that earthquake (the map here shows just how many people were reporting it across the country)
Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand PM
The 2.30am quake, which came less than an hour after a 3.7-magnitude rumble in the same area, was measured at 110 miles from the city of Gisborne. Aftershocks were still being recorded in the area.
Tsunami waves were possible within 180 miles of the earthquake's epicentre, the US-operated Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
The Hawaii-based warning centre said in a 3am update that 'tsunami waves had been observed' following the earthquake.
New Zealand's disaster agency said shortly afterwards that flooding was expected in a 100-mile coastal stretch from Cape Runaway to Tolaga Bay. SOURCE lalasticlala mynd44 |
And when the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hits Nigeria, I hope it hit a certain popular rock in the nation's capital. We don't care who resides in the rock.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake should also extend its cheerful hands to a certain Assembly housing some potbellied rogues who also double as the enemies of progress of the nation....
Mr Earthquake, we anxiously await your coming. We Anticipate!!! |
