Powerful quake off New Zealand triggers tsunami
WASHINGTON. July 7. KAZINFORM A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off New Zealand's Kermadec Islands, triggering a tsunami in the region, the US Geological Survey and the US Pacific Tsunami Center said on Wednesday; Kazinform refers to Arab News.
The quake, initially reported as a magnitude 7.9, triggered a tsunami warning for New Zealand, the Kermadec Islands and Tonga, the US Pacific Tsunami Center said.
"Sea level readings confirm that a tsunami was generated. This tsunami may have been destructive along coastlines of the region near the earthquake epicenter," the US Pacific Tsunami Center said in its warning.
It struck at 7:03 a.m. on Thursday (1903 GMT on Wednesday) at the epicenter, 131 miles (211 km) east of Raoul Island, part of the Kermadec archipelago, and was only 30 miles (48 km) deep, the USGS said; Kazinform cites Arab News.
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