New Zealand/Pacific

Tsunami warning withdrawn after New Zealand quake

Article published on the 2009-07-15 Latest update 2009-07-15 13:11 TU

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre's map of the earthquake
(Credit: Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre)

Officials in Australia and New Zealand say there is no longer a threat of a tsunami after a powerful earthquake off New Zealand's South Island. Hawaii-based monitors earlier issued a warning for the region.

"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicentre within minutes to hours," said the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.

The epicentre of the 7.8 magnitude undersea quake was about 160 kilometers west of the city of Invercargill on South Africa. Seismologists at the centre say that it was at a depth of 33 kilometers.

Radio New Zealand reported residents feeling tremors hundreds of kilometres away but no serious damage so far.

Earthquakes are frequent in and around New Zealand, where the boundaries of continental plates meet on the Pacific's so-called "Ring of Fire", causing earthqukes and volcanic activity.