Tsunami Warning Issue after 7.8 Quake off New Zealand

Yesterday a Tsunami warning was issued by the US Geological Survey after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off New Zealand's western coast. Reported that there were no serious injuries or damages. Waves are generated by the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said they were less than 20 centimeters in height. No destructive waves were headed for New Zealand's western seashore, Warning center said.

An e-mail alert warning of a probable tsunami in New Zealand was sent by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii.

According to the USGS, the initial quake struck around 8:22 p.m. local time (9:22 a.m. UTC/5:22 a.m. ET), and its epicenter was located 150 km (95 miles) west-northwest of Invercargill. It is a sparsely populated area of New Zealand.

John Hamilton, director of the Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management said that every available New Zealand and international data about the earthquake and sea levels showed that there is no tsunami threat to New Zealand.

As a precaution shortly after the initial quake, a tsunami warning was issued for New Zealand but was canceled about an hour and a half later.

Aftershocks, the first of 6.1 magnitude occurring 19 minutes after the main temblor, scientist in New Zealand reported. The first tremor lasted at least a minute, one resident of Invercargill told the New Zealand Press Association.

For eastern Australia that was still in effect late Wednesday, the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre also issued a tsunami alert.

The quake was felt widely across the South Island. Read more about New Zealand tsunami warning Issue Here. Here Map of the quake struck area.