Tsunami warning for the entire east coast of New Zealand

A strong earthquake with a magnitude estimated at 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred Sunday near Christchurch, New Zealand, according to the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS). The quake's epicenter was located 53 kilometers northeast of the town of Amberley Canterbury region on the South Island of New Zealand and 93 kilometers north-east of Christchurch. The quake was felt in the capital, Wellington, located 200 kilometers away.

Several buildings collapsed in the town of Kaikoura and many other buildings were damaged. A number of roads on the southern island were heavily affected by the earthquake. The authorities continue to assess the damage and several people were injured. People who live along the east coast have been told to retreat to higher ground immediately, with emergency officials warning that waves as high as 10ft are possible

 “If you are in a low lying area on the East Coast of the North, South or Chatham Islands move immediately to higher ground,” New Zealand’s ministry of civil defense and emergency management tweeted as the first waves were reported coming in. The Chathams are a small group of islands about 400 miles east of Christchurch, the largest city in the south island.

"Please heed the warnings, don't go back to your homes until we've cancelled the advisory or given further information," Sarah Stuart-Black, national controller of civil defense, told Radio New Zealand.

Throughout the night emergency officials have warned New Zealanders that the first waves may not be the biggest ones and that the tsunami threat would last hours. Sarah Stuart-Black, national controller at the Ministry of Civil Defense, said: “The first waves have arrived but we know that it is too early to say what the impact has been. Our concern is what is coming. Future waves are coming may be bigger than what has come before.”