A tsunami warning has been downgraded in New Zealand following a magnitude-5.9 earthquake that struck 40 kilometres north of Te Anau affecting the west coast of the South Island from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point.
Emergency officials had previously said the quake was a magnitude-6.3 and issued a tsunami warning.
That warning has since been downgraded to an advisory.
Although the tsunami alert was cancelled, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it expected coastal areas to experience “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore”.
“The quake may have been felt in Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Lumsden, Tuatapere, Wanaka, Alexandra, Roxburgh, Gore, Invercargill, Haast, Ranfurly, Balclutha, Twizel and surrounding localities.’
It said people should move out of the water, off beaches, and stay away from harbours, marinas and rivers.
GeoNet’s Bill Fry said he was surprised by the geometry of the earthquake, saying the striking angle was unusual.
“It’s really distinctly different to most of the earthquakes that happen.”
He said it was a significant quake for New Zealand, but was not big enough to cause a tsunami, and lasted less than a minute.
“It’s the type of shaking that starts to get to the threshold that it could cause some concerns.”
GeoNet initially said the quake’s magnitude was 6.3. Fry said a change in reported magnitude happens when they needed to make a rapid estimate to a large natural hazard.
He said they accept the uncertainties involved in this process, and prioritise getting the information to communities fast.
Fry said a 4.3-magnitude aftershock quake came within an hour of the initial quake, with a series of multiple about magnitude-4 aftershocks after.
He advised people that if they feel an earthquake longer than a minute, especially for those on the coast, they need to self-evacuate.
Photo: Edith Cavell Bridge, Arthurs Point.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council advised that the Edith Cavell Bridge at Arthurs Point would be closed until the structure was checked by engineers.
“As you may have recently felt, we’ve just experienced a significant earthquake. As a precaution, the Edith Cavell Bridge will be closed for inspection by engineers at first light. We’ll provide a further update around 8.30am in the morning.”
“If you’re travelling over the Crown Range, please drive carefully and be alert for rocks or debris that may have fallen onto the road as a result of the earthquake.”
A Te Anau resident told the Otago Daily Times the shaking was long and loud.
“It sounded like a train.”
A few things fell off the walls and the windows rattled so hard, it sounded like they’d break.
“The walls were definitely moving.”
Te Anau had earthquakes relatively often, but ones that strong were unusual, she said.
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