A two-metre high tsunami has been recorded in New Zealand after a powerful earthquake hit the country’s South Island.
They issued a tsunami warning after a powerful 7.4 earthquake rocked the country’s South Island earlier today.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit just after midnight local time, with the epicentre roughly 60 miles away from Christchurch, the BBC reports.
New Zealand lies on the volatile Ring of Fire, which is infamously known for frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions.
The city of Christchurch is still recovering from the 2011 earthquake which killed 185 people and destroyed the city centre.
The New Zealand Herald reports that tremors from this latest quake were stronger than 2011’s 6.3 quake and felt as far away as the cities of Dunedin in the south and Auckland on the North Island.
There have also been separate reports of damage to houses in the town of Cheviot on the South Island’s east coast.
Speaking to The Mirror, British chef Tim Owen, who lives near Christchurch said:
The earthquake went on for like a minute or so, which is quite long. It felt like swaying and like a wave. We just got up from the couch and stood in the doorway. It does make you feel very anxious not knowing if it will get worse or when it may stop.
Residents are being warned to expect aftershocks and the risk of falling debris from damaged buildings.
Our thoughts go out to anyone affected.
