The New Zealand Civil Defence Agency issued a tsunami alert following a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred this Thursday on New Zealand’s South Island
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The National Emergency Management Agency stated that residents of the affected areas should “head to the nearest elevated area outside the tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible.”
Although New Zealand authorities reported a magnitude 6.3 earthquake, seismic observatories in Germany and the United States each reported a magnitude of 5.9.
According to preliminary information provided by New Zealand authorities, the earthquake occurred approximately 40 kilometers north of the city of Te Anau.
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Te Anau is located in the sparsely populated western area of the South Island. However, it is a popular starting point for many tourists exploring the Fiordland region of the country, with destinations such as Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
Still, authorities communicated that the warning represents “a downgrade from the initial alert,” after determining that the earthquake was of a lower magnitude than initially estimated.
After initially advising people in the affected areas to move immediately to higher ground, they now advised caution due to “strong and unusual currents” along the coast.
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