Wellington, New Zealand: Authorities have urged people in coastal areas of New Zealand’s South Island to stay out of the water and move away from beaches following a powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on Tuesday, 25th of March.
The National Emergency Management Agency advised residents in the Southland and Fiordland regions to avoid marine areas due to the risk of strong and unusual currents.
Officials also warned those on boats, live-aboards, and marinas to evacuate their vessels and remain onshore until further notice.
More than 4,700 people reported feeling the tremor, according to government seismic monitor Geonet. New Zealand media reported buildings swaying and items falling from shelves.
One resident described witnessing an outdoor wooden table “dancing” as the quake hit.
Geonet recorded the earthquake at a depth of 33km (21 miles), approximately 160km (99 miles) northwest of Snares Islands, part of New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic region.
Initially reported as a magnitude 7 quake, the United States Geological Survey later revised it to 6.7 and placed it at a shallower depth of about 10km (6 miles).
Despite the strength of the quake, Australia’s national weather bureau confirmed that there was no tsunami threat to the mainland, islands, or territories.
New Zealand sits on the geologically active “Ring of Fire,” a 40,000km (24,854-mile) arc of volcanoes and ocean trenches that encircles much of the Pacific Ocean, making the country prone to earthquakes and seismic activity.
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