New Zealand:The east coast of New Zealand was hit by a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Thursday, generating a small tsunami, but officials said there was no significant damage or injuries. A swarm of aftershocks, several of nearly 6.0 magnitude, rocked the region for many hours after the initial jolt as coastal residents made their way to high ground by torchlight.
\nBut less than three hours later they were advised they could return home after a 30-centimetre (one foot) tsunami was detected. \u201cThe greatest wave height has already occurred, further waves are anticipated to be up to 20 centimetres,\u201d the Civil Defence organisation, which is responsible for national emergency management, said.
\n\u201cAreas under \u2018marine and beach threat\u2019 can expect unusually strong currents and unpredictable water flows near the shore. This means a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities.\u201d However, despite the power of the temblor, East Coast Civil Defence information officer Sheridan Gundry told Radio New Zealand the impact was minimal. \u201cWe haven\u2019t heard any reports of injuries or damage at all,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cThere was power out in a few places but we\u2019ve been let off pretty lightly as far as damage goes.\u201d The tsunami warning covered the East Coast of the North Island and the upper South Island. The shallow tremor, off the coast of New Zealand, was estimated at a depth of around 30 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey. It struck at 4:37am (2107 IST) and was centred 167 kilometres from the nearest main town, Gisborne, which has a population of around 45,000.
\nBill Martin, the owner of a holiday park in Te Araroa, a remote coastal community that was among those most affected by the quake, told The Associated Press he was woken by the jolt a little before 5 a.m. \u201cIt was very violent,\u201d he said. \u201cIt lasted maybe about 10 seconds but it seemed like an eternity.\u201d
\nMartin said the quake sent some of his household ornaments crashing from their shelves and knocked over bottles. \u201cI watched the pantry do the rock and roll,\u201d he said. \u201cThere were at least four aftershocks that were reasonably strong as well.\u201d
\nIn New Zealand, where earthquakes are common, Civil Defence regularly holds practice drills for coastal residents so they know how to react in an emergency. Pat Seymour, a local council politician in the Gisborne area, told the New Zealand Herald the earthquake was \u201cquite vigorous\u201d.
\nRead more: New Zealand coast shaken by 7.1 magnitude earthquake, tsunami threat issued
\n\u201cIt was enough to make me stand in the doorway,\u201d she said, recalling what she had been taught. In Te Araroa, nearly the entire population of 600 left their homes for higher ground according to local Iain Fraser. \u201cIt was pretty severe shaking for a couple of minutes. Then a couple of very light tremors after that,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m actually 1,000 metres from the ocean but I\u2019m up off sea level. \u201cI\u2019m looking like the only one left in town at the moment.\u201d
\nIn nearby Tokomaru Bay, Marlene Kipa heard the civil defence warning sirens and her mind went to other disasters. \u201cThat did cross my mind \u2014 the Christchurch earthquake \u2013I wondered how they feel.\u201d In February 2011, a 6.3 earthquake left 185 people dead in the South Island city of Christhurch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Zealand:The east coast of New Zealand was hit by a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Thursday, generating a small tsunami, but officials said there was no significant damage or injuries. A swarm of aftershocks, several of nearly 6.0 magnitude, rocked the region for many hours after the initial jolt as coastal residents made their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2740,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2734","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n