New Zealand issues but later lifts tsunami warning after magnitude 7 quake rocks North Island

New Zealand’s Civil Defence issued tsunami warnings for the country’s East and North coasts of North Island and the upper South Island after a magnitude 7 quake rocked North Island. The agency says strong currents are likely to continue for the next 24 hours.

Stuff.co.nz reports the tremor struck East Cape of North Island, with the epicenter 130 kilometres north-east of Te Araroa at a depth of 55 kilometres. It was felt at 4:37 am from Northland to Wellington and the top of South Island. However, there are no immediate reports of serious damage, reports BBC.

Because of the temblor, residents of the Tolaga Bay area were advised to evacuate their homes. The agency also ordered residents of coastal areas to move to a higher ground and keep away from beaches, streams and estuaries.

Despite the tsunami warning, only 21 centimetres of wave have been measured by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, while at East Cape and Gisborne port, 30-centimetre waves were measured. The tsunami warning has been lifted after 8 am after Civil Defence noted the greatest tsunami threat, based on available data, had passed.

But the agency adds that strong currents and sea fluctuation levels are expected to continue through Friday morning. The quake was stronger than the magnitude 6.3 tremor that destroyed a lot of buildings and killed people in Christchurch in 2011.

VIDEO: New Zealand Earthquake Today 2016 – CCTV Live 02.09.2016

Source: APM Vlogs