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EVACUATION ORDER: Heavy traffic with people approaching the nearest hill in Whangarei, New Zealand, early Friday morning. Tsunami waves have already been observed off the coast.
The earthquake off New Zealand could trigger dangerous tsunami waves across much of the Pacific region, warns the tsunami warning center in Hawaii. In New Zealand, several coastal residents were ordered to evacuate.
On Thursday night, a powerful new earthquake struck more than 1,000 kilometers northeast of the New Zealand coast, near the remote Kermadec Islands. Displays the overview of the US State Earthquake Watch (USGS).
The earthquake was registered at 8:28 p.m. Norwegian time and had a depth of 10 kilometers; force is measured in 8.1.
Right after, three aftershocks arrived, with strengths from 5.5 to 6.1.
– Based on all available data, dangerous tsunami waves have been warned in some coastal areas, the warning center warns.
EARTHQUAKE: The light blue circle marks the 8.1 magnitude earthquake off the Kermadec Islands. Photo: Screenshot, USGS
They believe there is a danger of waves of up to three meters in the Pacific regions of Vanuatu and the French territory of New Caledonia, NTB writes.
The earthquake could trigger smaller waves in areas as far away as Japan, Russia, Mexico and the coast of South America.
In several of the advisories it has been reported that tsunami waves have already been recorded after the earthquake.
– Walk, run or ride a bike
New Zealand has also shipped domestically tsunami warning, where they ask all residents along the east coast of the North Island to “evacuate immediately” and climb to the heights.
– Walking, running or cycling if possible to reduce the risk of getting caught in traffic, says the civil defense, who points out that evacuation orders trump crown rules.
– Don’t come back until the Civil Defense has given the green light, they say.
– I hope everyone is well, especially on the east coast that felt the full force of the earthquake, writes Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand on Thursday night on Instagram.
The tsunami could also hit Hawaii after the major earthquake between New Zealand and Tonga on Thursday.
Says the US Tsunami Warning Center for the Pacific, which is investigating whether people in Hawaii should also evacuate.
For the island communities of Fiji and Guam, at 10:15 p.m. it is reported that the situation is being monitored, but that there is no fear of a tsunami.
– Occurs once a year
Earlier Thursday, several earthquakes were reported in the area, the strongest with a magnitude of 7.4 to 18.41.
– There is a very strong earthquake, but not completely unusual in this area either. These powerful earthquakes occur roughly once a year around the world. Down there, big earthquakes often happen – this is one of the big fault areas and therefore often has big shakes and big earthquakes, says research leader Volker Oye in Applied Seismology at NORSAR.
Before these earthquakes, another earthquake occurred off the coast of New Zealand with a magnitude of 6.9. Even then, a tsunami watch was issued, but it was finally lifted.
