Tsunami warnings: violent earthquakes shake New Zealand

NAfter the violent earthquake off New Zealand, the authorities reduced the tsunami warning for large parts of the Pacific region. On Friday, the Civil Defense announced the end of the largest waves, and that all people who had previously been transported could return to safety. However, you should stay away from the beaches and the sea.

Three major earthquakes have been recorded in the past. The strongest earthquake, measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale, occurred near the Kermadec Islands, which are about 800 km northeast of the North Island of New Zealand. Shortly thereafter, another earthquake of 7.4 magnitude followed in the same area. Initially, there was no information about possible damages or casualties.

The Pacific Tsunami Early Warning System (PTWC) warned of the possibility of a tsunami after the earthquake. Experts predicted wave heights from one to three meters. The stretches from the coast from the Bay of Islands to Wangari and from Matata to Tulaga Bay were threatened. All other Pacific Coast residents have been asked to closely monitor the situation.

There was actually a violent 7.1 magnitude earthquake that night. The center was in the sea east of the North Island. Traumas have been reported across the region, including in major cities such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The New Zealand Herald reports that about two hours after the earthquake, 60,000 people reported to the local GeoNet monitoring system that they had felt the earthquake.

According to GeoNet information, the earthquake occurred about 100 kilometers off the coast of the Gisborne region at a depth of 90 kilometers. “I hope everyone is well, especially those on the East Coast who must have felt the full force of the earthquake,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wrote on Instagram.

Just last month, New Zealand thought about the Christchurch earthquake victims ten years ago. On February 22, 2011, 185 people were killed in the largest city on the South Island. The quake measured 6.2 magnitude.