July 15, 2009 8:32 AM
- Text
Powerful Earthquake Jolts New Zealand
(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.
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)
Popular Now in World
- Iran allegedly cuts off Internet access
- Pakistani fishermen reel in 40-foot whale shark
- Iran: We can attack U.S. interests "anywhere"
- Syria rebels bloodied, battered, but defiant
- "Voluptuous" Ukrainian nurse abandons Qaddafi
- Girl with Two Heads Born in Philippines
- Booze and bikinis in a new Egypt
- Cockpit error sent 737 into Pacific nose dive
- Israel To U.S.: Don't Delay Iraq Attack
- 23 women convicted of child pornography in Sweden
- Stephen Hawking: Heaven is "a fairy story"
- Syria's Christians stand by Assad
- 130 Doctors Without Borders staff go missing
- GlobalPost: Qaddafi apparently sodomized
- Greek Cruise Ship Sinks
- Costa Concordia wreck seen from space
- Iran helping al Qaeda? War "hysteria" builds
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Wash. moves step closer to legalizing gay marriage
- Air Force trains flight attendants for VIP trips
- Item in Powell unit tests positive for blood
- Video: Man tries to carry girl away at Ga. Walmart
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Josh Powell had "incestuous" images on his home computer, authorities say
on CBS News






