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| Credit USGS |
#11,900
New Zealand, which sustained heavy damage from a M7.1 quake in 2010 followed by an even more destructive M6.3 quake in early 2011, has been struck again by a major M7.4 temblor a short time ago (11:02 UTC), followed by a strong M6.2.
The first, and biggest quake, struck about 90km from Christchurch.
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| Credit USGS |
Both quakes are reportedly shallow (10.km), and damage is likely to be substantial. Additionally, additional quakes are likely in the coming hours, days, and even weeks.
While a Pacific wide tsunami is not expected, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued the following warning for a possible local event.
TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT NUMBER 2
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
1143 UTC SUN NOV 13 2016
...PTWC TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT...
**** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE *****
THIS STATEMENT IS ISSUED FOR INFORMATION ONLY IN SUPPORT OF THE UNESCO/IOC PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION SYSTEM AND IS MEANT FOR NATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN EACH COUNTRY OF THAT SYSTEM.
NATIONAL AUTHORITIES WILL DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF ALERT FOR EACH COUNTRY AND MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL OR MORE REFINED INFORMATION.
**** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE *****
NOTE INCREASE OF EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE
PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
---------------------------------
* MAGNITUDE 7.9
* ORIGIN TIME 1103 UTC NOV 13 2016
* COORDINATES 42.8 SOUTH 173.4 EAST
* DEPTH 10 KM / 6 MILES
* LOCATION SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND
EVALUATION
----------
* AN EARTHQUAKE WITH A PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE OF 7.9 OCCURRED IN SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND AT 1103 UTC ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13 2016.
* A DRAWDOWN OF 2.5 METERS WAS OBSERVED AT KAIKOURA TIDE STATION.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
-------------------
A DAMAGING LOCAL TSUNAMI MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED. APPROPRIATE ACTIONS
SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY.
TSUNAMI OBSERVATIONS
--------------------
* THE FOLLOWING ARE TSUNAMI WAVE OBSERVATIONS FROM COASTAL AND/OR DEEP-OCEAN SEA LEVEL GAUGES AT THE INDICATED
LOCATIONS. THE MAXIMUM TSUNAMI HEIGHT IS MEASURED WITH
RESPECT TO THE NORMAL TIDE LEVEL.
GAUGE TIME OF MAXIMUM WAVE
COORDINATES MEASURE TSUNAMI PERIOD
GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON (UTC) HEIGHT (MIN)
-------------------------------------------------------------
KAIKOURA NZ 42.4S 173.7E 1103 2.49M/ 8.2FT 96
