A powerful earthquake has hit northeast of Christchurch, a city in New Zealand. Authorities have issued a tsunami warning, urging people in the area to “move to high ground.” The quake was centered 46km from the town of Amberley with about 2,000 people, and 70km from the town of Kaiapoi with 10,000 residents, according to the USGS. The tremor, with a magnitude initially estimated at 7.4 before being scaled up to 7.8, had a shallow depth of 5km.
The quake also took place 86km from the town of Christchurch which was struck by a powerful earthquake back in 2011. At least 185 people were killed and hundreds injured after the 6.3 magnitude quake hit the town. NZ Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) issued a tsunami warning for the eastern coasts of North and South Islands. READ MORE
