
The USGS says the quake's epicenter was 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Invercargill, off the west coast of New Zealand's southern island, at a depth of 20.5 kilometers (33 kilometers).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii sent an e-mail alert warning of a possible tsunami in New Zealand.
"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours," it says.
Comments