One of the strongest earthquakes to hit the South Pacific in modern history issued a tsunami alert in the ocean on Friday. Thousands of New Zealanders have been forced to evacuate the coastal areas. Small tsunami waves have been observed, where little damage has also been recorded so far.
The 8.1-magnitude earthquake in the Kermadec island region, about 1,000 kilometers from New Zealand, was the largest in a series of earthquakes that occurred two hours earlier, with two of 7.4 and 7.3 recorded. The tsunami threat resulted in a traffic jam in New Zealand. Anarchy was witnessed, as the public descended on a scuffle to move to a higher place.
New Zealand’s civil defense department advised people to walk or cycle to avoid getting caught in traffic. The agency told people near the coast in several areas to move immediately to high ground or get inland as far as possible. It said “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges” with tsunami activity continuing for several hours.
Residents recorded videos of small waves at some locations, including Tokomaru Bay near Gisborne. In the afternoon, the National Emergency Management Agency said the threat had passed and people could return to their homes, although they should avoid the beaches. In 2011, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake devastated the city of Christchurch, killing 185 people and destroying much of the city.
