WELLINGTON, New Zealand, July 15, 2009

Powerful Earthquake Jolts New Zealand

7.8-Magnitude Temblor Prompts Tsunami Warning for Island Nation But No Destructive Waves Materialize

  •  (AP / CBS)

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(CBS/ AP)  A tsunami warning was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off New Zealand's western coast Wednesday.

The quake's epicenter was 100 mileswest of Invercargill, off the west coast of New Zealand's South Island at a depth of 21 miles. It hit at 0922 GMT on Wednesday, the USGS said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii sent an e-mail alert warning of a possible tsunami in New Zealand, but the warning was called off after waves no larger than eight inches washed ashore on a remote section of South Island's coast.

The quake was felt widely across South Island, where the earthquake was centered.

The Warning Center said there were no indications of a "destructive
tsunami threat to Hawaii."

Police in the town of Tuatapere on South Island said they had reports of minor cracks in buildings and stock falling from supermarket shelves.

However, no reports of serious damage or injuries were received, police said.
(CBS)


© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Add a Comment
by eyesC July 15, 2009 3:37 PM EDT
Earthquakes in divers Places
Reply to this comment
by debinok1 July 16, 2009 12:13 AM EDT
Yeah, seeing more and more of them.
by frankinaz July 16, 2009 2:21 AM EDT
Since this earthquake centered under water, that would be a place for divers.
by mainermike July 15, 2009 2:05 PM EDT
This is AS I SEE IT, by Mainer Mike Brown.

Considering the lack of blogs on this topic, it's obvious that America isn't concerned with what's happening in New Zealand.

That's AS I SEE IT. I'm Mainer Mike Brown.
Reply to this comment
by mainermike July 15, 2009 1:13 PM EDT
This is AS I SEE IT, by Mainer Mike Brown.

I could never live in an area that gets serious earthquakes.

That's AS I SEE IT. I'm Mainer Mike Brown.
Reply to this comment
by mainermike July 15, 2009 1:11 PM EDT
This is AS I SEE IT, by Mainer Mike Brown.

I could never live in an area where serious earthquakes occur.

That's AS I SEE IT. I'm Mainer Mike Brown.
Reply to this comment
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