Powerful earthquake strikes New Zealand's South Island; tsunami warning issued
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake centred north of Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island struck just after midnight on Sunday. / Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand’s South Island late Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake's epicenter was about 50 kilometers northwest of Christchurch city, which was devastated by a 2011 temblor. A tsunami warning was issued shortly after the quake. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The New Zealand government's GeoNet website said the quake was "felt widely" throughout the country and warned citizens to watch out for aftershocks.
Christchurch has a population of over 340,000 people, according to the most recent government census.
In February 2011, a 6.3 earthquake left 185 people dead in the South Island city of Christhurch.
New Zealand is on the boundary of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, which form part of the so-called "Ring of Fire", and experiences up to 15,000 tremors a year.