Earthquake New Zealand

Powerful 8.1 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes New Zealand

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Throughout the day the area has been shaken by two other tremors, one of 6.5 and the other of 7.4

The New Zealand emergency agency has ordered the “immediate evacuation” of the population in the areas of the east coast of the North Island, after an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 on the Richter scale has shaken the area of ​​the Kermadec Islands early Friday (local time), fearing a tsunami.

“Inhabitants of coastal areas (…) should immediately leave for the nearest high altitude area, outside of all tsunami evacuation zones, and as far inland as possible,” the New Zealand emergency agency has asked. has issued a tsunami warning that affects the inhabitants of the coastal strip that stretches from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei, and from Matata to Tolaga Bay, including the cities of Whakatane and Opotiki, and the Great Barrier Great Barrier Island.

The latest update of the emergency service includes in the tsunami warning to the strip of the west coast of the North Island, from Cape Reinga to Ahipara. “Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable waves are expected near the coast,” he said in a statement. The alert does not affect the capital, Wellington, or Auckland, the country’s largest city, located on the North Island.

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The authorities have warned that the severity of currents and waves may vary according to the area during the period of validity of this warning, which poses “a threat to activities on the beach, the port, the estuary and small boats. ”. And they have recalled that “it is possible that the first wave is not the largest”, so they ask for caution until the warning is canceled.

The Kermadec are located between the North Island of New Zealand and the archipelago of Tonga. Throughout today, the area has been affected by strong earthquakes, one of them 6.5 and the other 7.4. New Zealand sits on the fault between the Pacific and Oceania tectonic plates and records about 14,000 earthquakes each year, of which between 100 and 150 are powerful enough to be perceived.

The authorities have indicated that the evacuation order cancels the restrictions due to covid-19. However, they remember: “Stay 2 meters from others if you can and if it is safe to do so.”

According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 7:28 p.m. GMT on Thursday and had its epicenter in the Kermandec Islands, northeast of Auckland, and about 800 kilometers from the coast.

Tsunami Warning in Hawaii

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned of the possibility of “dangerous tsunami waves” in the next three hours and has issued alerts for the coasts of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuato and Wallis and Futuna.

The Hawaii Emergencies authority has indicated that it is investigating the degree of threat it may pose to the coasts of California, Oregon, the State of Washington, Alaska and the Canadian province of British Columbia.

In other countries whose coasts face the Pacific, such as Chile, local authorities have ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.

So far no damage has been reported. The president of the country, Jacinda Ardern, published a message on her social networks after the first earthquake, in which she wanted the population to be safe. “I hope everyone is well, especially on the east coast, where they have felt the full force of that earthquake,” he indicated in a message accompanied by a map showing the intensity with which it was felt.

Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.

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