Powerful Magnitude 7.1 Quake Strikes New Zealand
(CBS SF) – New Zealand authorities canceled a tsunami warning after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the South Pacific nation.
The earthquake struck around 9:37 a.m. Pacific Time Thursday (4:37 a.m. Friday in New Zealand) about 105 miles off the coastal city of Gisborne on the North Island, the USGS reports. The depth was 19.07 miles.
People living in the capital city of Wellington and in Auckland, the nation's largest city, told the New Zealand Herald Newspaper that they felt the earthquake. Both cities are several hundred miles from the epicenter.
The New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management issued a tsunami warning for the east coast of North Island and Upper South Island following the quake.
MCDEM have issued a tsunami warning for East Coast of North Island (incl Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty) and Upper South Island. #EQNZ
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) September 1, 2016
Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled. #EQNZ
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) September 1, 2016
The first tsunami activity has arrived. A wave height measuring 30cm was measured at East Cape a short time ago. #EQNZ
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) September 1, 2016
There is a tsunami threat is to areas marked in green on the map. No threat to other parts of NZ. #EQNZ pic.twitter.com/TljGLBJXvu
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) September 1, 2016
New Zealand officials canceled the alert several hours later, but urged residents to prepare for aftershocks.
U.S. officials said there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii or the West Coast.
Tsunami Info Stmt: M7.2 off the east coast of North Isla 0938PDT Sep 1: Tsunami NOT expected; CA,OR,WA,BC,and AK
— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) September 1, 2016
#NTWC
No #tsunami threat from 7.0 magnitude #earthquake near New Zealand. Only 21 cm wave height measured. #PTWC https://t.co/0ykPKehIHA
— NWS PTWC (@NWS_PTWC) September 1, 2016
COMPLETE QUAKE COVERAGE: CBS Earthquake Resource Center
This article will be updated as information warrants, and follow KPIX 5 on Twitter at @CBSSF or KCBS Radio on Twitter at @KCBSNews for updates on breaking news anytime.