Posted on 11/13/2016 9:07:44 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Seismologist says tidal surge of up to one metre has been recorded in North Canterbury region of the New Zealand's South Island
* USGS says quake magnitude revised to 7.8
* Authorities issue tsunami alert, say waves could be 5 metres
* Thousands flee homes to seek higher ground
* Reports emerging of injuries, so far no reports of deaths
* In 2011, a 6.3 quake killed 185 people in Christchurch (Adds authorities warning first tsunami waves may not be biggest)
By Charlotte Greenfield
WELLINGTON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck central New Zealand just after midnight, the U.S. Geological Survey said, causing widespread damage and generating a tsunami.
Thousands of people along New Zealand's east coast fled their homes to head for higher ground as emergency services warned of destructive waves of up to five metres (yards) in some areas.
"The first waves have arrived but we know that it is too early to say what the impact has been," said Sarah Stuart-Black, national controller at the Ministry of Civil Defence. "Our concern is what is coming. Future waves are coming may be bigger than what has come before."
St. John Ambulance said it was sending helicopters carrying medical and rescue personnel to near the epicentre of the quake, 91 km (57 miles) north-northeast of Christchurch, where a 6.3 quake in 2011 killed 185 people, on New Zealand's South Island.
"We are starting to get reports of injuries from the earthquake area, including Culverden area and Kaikoura," Dion Rosario, St John Incident Controller, said in a statement. "However, at this stage we do not have specifics."
Police said they were investigating reports of a collapsed building in the coastal tourist town of Kaikoura.
The first tremor and a series of aftershocks were felt throughout most of New Zealand. There were no immediate reports of deaths.
"The whole house rolled like a serpent and some things smashed, the power went out," a woman, who gave her name as Elizabeth, told Radio New Zealand from her home in Takaka, near the top of the South Island.
In Wellington, there was gridlock on the roads to Mount Victoria, a hill with a lookout overlooking the low-lying coastal city.
"I'm just sort of parked by the side of the road and I think people are trying to go to sleep the same as I am," Wellington resident Howard Warner told Reuters after evacuating his seaside house.
Richard Maclean, a spokesman for the Wellington City Council, said there was structural damage to several buildings.
"We've got reports of broken water pipes and lots and lots of things off desks and shelves," he told Radio New Zealand.
Other residents reported glass had fallen from buildings into the streets and hotels and apartment buildings had been evacuated.
A spokeswoman for the city council of Christchurch, where tsunami sirens rent the air, said its "emergency operations centre" was active.
Several roads around the South Island were closed and damage to power and phone networks was reported.
Pictures shared on social media showed buckled roads, smashed glass and goods toppled from shelves in shops in Wellington and the upper South Island.
New Zealand's Geonet revised up its estimated magnitude of the quake to 7.5, from 6.6 earlier.
(Additional reporting by Colin Packham, Byron Kaye, Jane Wardell in Sydney; Writing by Lincoln Feast; Editing by Neil Fullick)
New Zealand is a beautiful country. I am praying for the people in harm’s way.
Ping!
Never been there but have spoken to someone who has.
She was enamored with the ideology of its government and the public’s enthusiasm for same.
Praying.
An interesting juxtaposition here on FR where this post comes just above a post about ‘Rebuilding the Navy’! Something that is lost to the committed LEFTISTS of Obama and Hillary is that the US Military is THE WORLD CLASS emergency response team. Hollowing it out for resources to bribe the ‘gibmedats’ hurts not only them but makes the emergency missions slower and less capable.
Right now, I am CONFIDENT that units of the US Navy and US Air Force are working hard to assist the devastated areas of New Zealand. Yet, the job would have had more units, more personnel if not for Obama! The ability to go and assist is a GREAT TRADITION of our military and one they take great pride in doing. Doing that job can only make and keep friends for us in this dangerous world!
Ernest, can you tell us where that photo was taken?
Pulled it off the Drudge report page,....assuming near Wellington.
Ouch!
Brick buildings plus quakes are a recipe for death an injury.
They are getting some big aftershocks and I bet there is one more really big one coming.
https://www.google.com/webhp?ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=usgs+quake+maps
See #14....they had big foreshocks too!
JUST IN: Large quake in Argentina. Pray!
http://earthquake-report.com/2016/11/13/strong-earthquake-tinogasta-argentina-on-november-13-2016/
Looks like it’s going up the Ring of Fire.
http://www.globalincidentmap.com/
It is interactive it seems for me.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3482191/posts
They are already on their way——were headed there for the celebration of New Zealand’s Navy 75th
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