A powerful earthquake sent residents scrambling to higher ground on New Zealand’s South Island on Thursday, after authorities warned a “damaging tsunami” could inundate the coast. The 5.9-magnitude tremor struck at 9.14pm local time (0914 GMT) about 40km north of Te Anau, the gateway to the tourist hotspot Fiordland National Park, according to New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The agency initially assessed the quake at magnitude 6.3 before revising it downward.
Residents described a loud rumble before the shaking began. One person in Invercargill said their “bed was shaking and the house was creaking” during the terrifying tremor. Another, based more than 100 miles from the warning zone, reported: “Big Earthquake just struck around Te Anau. I’m 200km away and the shaking here was intense. Hopefully everyone is okay and there isn’t too much damage.” The shaking was felt as far east as Dunedin, where chairs and pictures shifted in the city’s hospital, according to the NZ Herald. GeoNet, New Zealand’s official geological hazard monitoring agency, said more than 20,000 people had reported feeling the quake.
“5.9-magnitude earthquake strikes near Fiordland, New Zealand, triggering tsunami warning and evacuation order.”
NEMA initially issued a tsunami warning for a roughly 1,340-mile stretch of the west coast of the South Island, from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point. The agency warned: “People near the coast in the following areas must move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. Do not stay at home.” It added: “The first wave may not be the largest. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat is real until this warning is cancelled.”
The tsunami alert was later lifted, but the agency cautioned that coastal areas could still experience “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore”. It advised people on boats to leave their vessels and move onto shore, and not to return unless instructed by officials. The earthquake’s epicentre was on land in Fiordland National Park, a popular destination known for its fjords and hiking trails, at a depth of about 76km. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage, though the threat of coastal surges remained. “Listen to local Civil Defence authorities and follow any instructions regarding evacuation of your area,” NEMA said.