Tsunami warning after magnitude 8.1 earthquake in New Zealand

New Zealand experienced three strong earthquakes today.

The strongest and most recent was estimated at magnitude 8.1 by the United States Geological Survey. This triggered a multi-island Pacific tsunami advisory. Even Hawaii is under tsunami watch.

The epicenter of the Earth’s movement was located at latitude 29.7 ° south and longitude 177.2 ° west. It is estimated that it took place at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Previously, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit the waters northeast of New Zealand, triggering an initial tsunami warning that was later dropped, with no property damage or casualties thus far.

Later in the day, another 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit the same area.

New Zealand, with a population of 4.6 million, sits on the fault line between the tectonic plates of the Pacific and Oceania and records approximately 14,000 earthquakes annually, of which between 100 and 150 are powerful enough to be observed.

On February 22, 2011, 185 people were killed in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that shook the city of Christchurch, in the South Island, and damaged 30,000 buildings.