A magnitude 7.5 earthquake centred north of Christchurch has jolted New Zealand and triggered a two-metre Tsunami.
The severe quake, located 15 km north-east of Culverden at a depth of 15km, struck just after midnight on Sunday and was felt throughout the country.
A two-metre tsunami has been generated in response to the earthquake and the first wave arrived at Kaikoura on the South Island just before 2am on Monday local time, according to the NZ Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
The Civil Defence has warned further waves will arrive at Chatham islands immediately and people on the country's east coast have been ordered to move to high ground for the next several hours.
The quake, located 20km south east of Hanmer Springs at a depth of 16km, was felt by the entire country and set off a series of aftershocks, the largest being a 6.2 magnitude quake near Wellington
Waves between three to five metres are expected between Marlborough Peninsula near Wellington and Banks Peninsula, just south of Christchurch, according to Civil Defence.
The quake set of a series of aftershocks around the country, the largest of which was felt in Wellington on the south end of the North Island.
At about 12.40, the Wellington area was hit with a 6.2 magnitude earthquake.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake moved struck the centre of the north Island at about 10 minutes later.
An earthquake of magnitude 7.8 has struck near Christchurch, New Zealand, triggering a tsunami with 2.5m high waves.
People living along the coast have been warned to 'move to higher ground' - with the first wave already hitting the north east coast of South Island.
The quake struck in darkness in the early hours of Monday morning in Christchurch which was reduced to rubble by an earthquake just five years ago.
The tsunami threat is for the east coast of all New Zealand including Christchurch, Wellington and the Chatham islands - people across the entire country have been told to stay off beaches.
Some areas along South Island’s east coast could be hit with waves as high as 16.4ft, says New Zealand’s Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
It has tweeted a photo of a map that shows the areas that are expected to be affected by a tsunami.
It said: “Highest waves are expected between Marlborough and Banks Peninsula. There is a threat for all NZ coast. Stay off beaches.”
St John Ambulance says it is starting to receive reports of injuries from the earthquake zone, including Culverden and Kaikoura, Radio New Zealand reports.
The nature of the injuries is not known.
The earthquake could be felt more than 1,100 miles away, with potential for damage inside a near 100-mile radius
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