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WELLINGTON: Evacuation orders were issued for New Zealanders living in some areas of the East Coast about him north island after a third earthquake struck the area on Friday.
The latest was a magnitude 8.0 earthquake that struck the Kermadec Islands, northeast of New Zealand’s North Island. This came shortly after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the same region.
Previously, another large 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck some 900 kilometers away in the eastern North Island and was felt by tens of thousands, causing its own tsunami warning. This warning was later lifted.
The New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued a tsunami warning saying the threatened areas were from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay, including Whakatane and Opotiki, and the Island of the Great Barrier.
“People close to shore in the following areas should immediately move to the nearest high ground, outside of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. DO NOT STAY HOME,” NEMA said on Twitter.
“The earthquake may not have been felt in some of these areas, but evacuation should be immediate as a damaging tsunami is possible,” he added.
There was no tsunami threat in other areas of New Zealand.
Previously, more than 60,000 people across the country felt the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the eastern North Island of New Zealand and many described the shaking as “severe.” Aftershocks were still being recorded in the area.
There were no immediate reports of damage from any of the earthquakes.
“I hope everyone is well, especially on the east coast, who would have felt the full force of that earthquake,” said the Prime Minister. Jacinda ardern posted on Instagram.
