Latest Zealand’s famous national park is under a direct tsunami threat after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the coast.
The alarm was raised after a ‘damaging’ tsunami wave is feared on the South Island.
People in coastal areas were told to maneuver to higher ground immediately after the quake hit today, even abandoning their vehicles and running to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
The powerful tremor was detected around 24 miles north of Te Anau off the distant Fiordland National Park, known for its majestic fjords and mountaineering trails.
The warning is in place on the west coast of the South Island from Milford Sound and Puysegur Point, the country’s emergency agency said.
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The earthquake’s centre was detected at a depth of around 58 miles underground at 9.14pm local time today, west of tourist hotspot Queenstown, Otago.
The warning has since been downgraded and the quake strength revised to five.9 magnitudes, Latest Zealand Civil Defence said.
Nevertheless, it could create unusual currents and unpredictable surges on the shore, so people should move away from water, including rivers, and clear off beaches, it said.
South Islanders said they heard a loud rumble before shaking began.
A resident in Invercargill said their ‘bed was shaking and the home was creaking’ through the terrifying tremor.
One resident based greater than 100 miles from the warning zone said: ‘Big Earthquake just struck around Te Anau.
‘I’m 200km away and the shaking here was intense. Hopefully everyone seems to be okay and there isn’t an excessive amount of damage.’
People nearly 200 miles east on the opposite side of the island reported feeling a few of the shocks.
One Redditor said: ‘Felt it in Dunedin. Not super strong but definitely felt it.’
Dunedin Hospital’s chairs and pictures shifted because the constructing shook, in line with NZ Herald.
There have been no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities.
National Emergency Management Agency said in a warning: ‘Land inundation is probably going in the next areas.
‘People near the coast in the next areas must move immediately to the closest high ground, out of tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible.
‘The earthquake may not have been felt in a few of these areas, but evacuation must be immediate as a harmful tsunami is feasible.’
‘Hearken to local Civil Defence authorities and follow any instructions regarding evacuation of your area. When you are told to evacuate don’t stay at home.
‘Don’t return until an official all-clear message is given by Civil Defence.
‘Walk, run or cycle if in any respect possible to cut back the probabilities of getting stuck in traffic congestion.’
People outside the immediate evacuation zone should move to the closest higher ground or as far inland as possible in the event that they felt an extended or strong earthquake that made it difficult to get up, the agency said.
Latest Zealand’s dotted with lively and extinct volcanoes, and the island sits on the boundary of the Australian and Pacific plates, making it vulnerable to earthquakes.
The South Island’s largest city, Christchurch, was devastated within the 2011 quakes when a tremor struck just 4 miles from the business centre, killing 185 people.
Up to now, the country’s worst natural disaster has been the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake.
Hundreds were injured and 256 people died after buildings collapsed from a 7.8 magnitude shock within the North Island.
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