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The Guardian - AU
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Eleanor Ainge Roy in Canterbury and Matthew Weaver, Bonnie Malkin, Michael Slezak,Claire Phipps and Matthew Taylor

Thousands stranded and towns cut off after New Zealand quakes – as it happened

New Zealand earthquake - video report

As New Zealand counts the costs of the earthquake, Eleanor Ainge Roy in Hanmer Springs, rounds up the latest developments.

That’s it for the live blog for now. There will be more updates on our New Zealand earthquake 2016 page.

Simon Rooke, commanding officer of HMNZS Canterbury the ship being sent to the worst-hit areas, says his priority will be rescuing 500 stranded tourists.

“Our main aim is to get the people out first,” he said.

Members of the public inspect the damage to the road on the Wellington water front
Members of the public inspect the damage to the road on the Wellington water front Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images

Heavy rain has added to the risk of land slides, Wellington city council has warned.

The region’s acting civil defence controller, Anthony Wilson, says: “The conditions are right for landslips – so motorists should be extra vigilant, especially on blind bends. Better still, stay home if you can.”

Some buildings in Wellington are still be checked for earthquake damange. People are being urged to check with their employers on the safety of their workplace before returning to work.

“The earthquake was the worst I’ve ever experienced,” emails reader Brian Jones, who lives in in Lower Hutt, 40km north of Wellington.

But life is slowly getting back to normal despite the aftershocks, he says.

There was no damage to my house or contents, but my house was built in 2000 to modern earthquake codes. My neighbours are all fine to. We didn’t lose power or utilities, but there was power outages to Upper Hutt, to the north of us, and to the Lower Hutt.

All power is now restored. The trains and buses are now running again into Wellington. I even went shopping at the supermarket this afternoon.

There has been a steady stream of military helicopters flying from Trentham (the NZ Army base just north of us) to the south. The aftershocks are trying - we have earthquakes of magnitude 3-5 every 3-5 minutes. Hopefully back to work tomorrow.

A breach in the Clarence River, north of Kaikoura, is not as severe as previously feared, according to civil defence authorities.

They warned people to stay away from the river but have decided not to evacuate residents.

The New Zealand news site Stuff says a land slide dammed the river about 10km upstream from the mouth, north of Kaikoura. The banked-up water burst through the wall of debris about 4.20pm. A helicopter in the area saw the breach and the water beginning to roll downstream.

Aerial photo taken and received on Monday shows debris causing a huge dam, north of Kaikoura on the South Island’s east coast.
Aerial photo taken and received on Monday shows debris causing a huge dam, north of Kaikoura on the South Island’s east coast. Photograph: Mark Mitchell/AFP/Getty Images

AP has footage of those stranded cows on a tiny of clumped of grass somewhere near Kaikoura.

Cows stranded on ‘island’ after New Zealand earthquake – aerial video

Updated

Are you in New Zealand? Share your experience of the quake and its aftermath

You can share your eyewitness accounts, photos and videos or news tips direct with our journalists via our GuardianWitness page. Please think about your security first when recording and sharing your content.

Aerial photos taken by New Zealand’s airforce show “massive rockfalls in several areas in the upper South Island”, according to a Facebook update from the defence force.

Darryn Webb, the Acting Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said” “It is clear from the photos taken by our personnel that the major route from Christchurch to Kaikoura is impassable. So is the road from Kaikoura to Hanmer Springs and the one from Blenheim to Kaikoura.”

The NZDF also confirmed that HMNZS Canterbury has been deployed to help evacuate “a large number of tourists and residents in Kaikoura”, as well as bring aid supplies to the worst hit areas.

A landslide blocks State Highway One and the main railway line north of Kaikoura.
A landslide blocks State Highway One and the main railway line north of Kaikoura. Photograph: Mark Mitchell/AP

I am handing over to my colleague Matthew Weaver now. He will keep you up to date with all the latest developments as a battered New Zealand prepares for storms to hit overnight. Thanks for reading.

What we know so far

  • A 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit near Hanmer Springs in the north of South Island, New Zealand at 12.02am.
  • Two people are confirmed dead.
  • Several main roads and rail lines have been badly damaged and are impassable.
  • Thousands of people were evacuated to high ground after a tsunami warning was issued. The warnings were lifted, but people remain advised to stay away from waterways due to strong waves and currents.
  • Kaikoura, a town of about 2,000 people, in the South Island, has been almost completely isolated with roads closed and phone lines down. There is a state of emergency in place for the town.
  • One thousand tourists will be airlifted out over the coming days, and a frigate is also en route to evacuate people. It could be two weeks until the roads reopen.
  • John Key, the prime minister, toured the affected area and said the damage, which could cost the nation $2bn, was “horrendous”.
  • There are severe weather warnings for the northern parts of South Island, which could hamper the response effort.
  • The Clarence river dam has been breached, sending a wall of water downstream and threatening farms.
  • Scientists think the quake might have actually been two quakes in separate faults.
  • A strong 6.8-magnitude aftershock hit near Cheviot in the South Island.
  • A 100-year-old woman has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed homestead.
  • Residents have been advised to boil drinking water in the town of Raglan after water supplies were affected by the quake.

Updated

'Like living on a waking dragon'

New Zealanders are counting the cost of the earthquake that swallowed roads, twisted railway lines and left towns and cities smashed and deserted.

Read our latest full report on the aftermath of the 7.5-magnitude quake here:

Updated

Aerial footage shows devastation after the earthquake

Aerial footage from New Zealand shows devastation after earthquake

As darkness begins to fall, people affected by the earthquake are making plans for how they will spend the night. Some will sleep in community centres and town halls, while others will pitch tents under the stars, hoping for a much quieter night than the one that went before it.

People planning to sleep inside have their “grab gear” ready in case of another midnight earthquake.

Mark and Lisa Skett are in Hanmer Springs, close to the epicentre of the quake. The couple are on holiday from Stratford Upon Avon in Britain and were sleeping in their campervan when the quake hit. Mark writes:

Last night was extremely frightening as the campervan was almost tipping over.

A lot of people have left thinking they will be able to get to Christchurch. We chose to stay as there are warnings of landslides and with rain expected this could potentially make the situation much worse. Will try driving to Christchurch tomorrow, this is only road open from here.

At time of writing there are strong winds building up too.”

Updated

Simon Makker, the Red Cross recovery communications manager, has told the Guardian that most of the efforts in Kaikoura were centred around the marae, which was the main welfare centre in the area.
Tonight up to 100 people would stay there, he said.

We’ve just flown in and roads and bridges are cut up, but local people are still using the roads. There is a tiny bit of cellphone reception around the marae, but it’s patchy.”

The Air Force had arrived and would fly four loads of people out of Kaikoura, he said.

Makker did not know how people were being prioritised for evacuation.
Some tourists who haven’t been to the marae welfare centre did not know about the evacuations, he said he would be going around hotels, motels and venues to inform tourists tomorrow.
He said he would probably be in the town for five days.

Meanwhile, power is back on in Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs.

Updated

A radio newsreader displayed nerves of steel as she continued broadcasting during the earthquake.

Vicki McKay was in the middle of reading the latest sports news when the quake hit. She managed to stay calm and collected despite the violent shaking, some of which was audible.

Updated

'Two weeks until the roads open'

More from Kaikoura:

A spokesman from Takahanga Marae has been open since 12.30am and has has catered to 500 people today. They have food and gas cookers, but no water or sewerage. Sir Mark Solomon of Ngai Tahu, the principal Māori iwi of the southern region of New Zealand, described Oaru bridge as being “snapped in half”.

Katarina Kroll, from Britain, was on honeymoon with her husband in Kaikoura when the quake hit. She told the Guardian via email from the hospital that the pair were now trying to get out.

We’re stranded here, there’s no access as the state highway is closed by huge land slips and roads cracked on either side of the peninsula.

We’ve signed up to a helicopter register that in theory would take us to Christchurch but not sure if that will come to fruition. They’re saying two weeks before the roads open.”

Updated

One of my colleagues has dropped a pin over the epicentre of the quake:

Update on the missing kayakers:

Spate of burglaries reported

At least 19 burglaries have been reported at homes and businesses in New Zealand’s earthquake-hit Canterbury region.

District commander superintendent John Price said it was extremely disappointing that some people are interested only in taking advantage of a traumatic event, according to the Australian Associated Press.

“This sort of offending really scrapes the bottom of the barrel, especially for Cantabrians who have endured so much heartache in similar circumstances over the last five years,” he said.

“I want to assure residents that Canterbury police will do everything in their power to find the people responsible for this disgusting spate of crime.”

Damage bill from earthquake could amount to 'a couple of billion dollars'

John Key, the prime minister, has indicated that the damage bill from the earthquake that hit the nation’s South Island overnight is likely to be at least “a couple of billion dollars”, according to Radio New Zealand said.

“It’s hard to believe that the bill is going to be less than a couple of billion,” he said.

Updated

Mapping the earthquakes

My colleague Nick Evershed has created this animation of earthquakes that have hit New Zealand in the 12 hours since midnight.

When and where the NZ earthqukes happened

Government to use boats and planes to get tourists out of Kaikoura

John Key, the prime minister, has said the government will mobilise its forces including the frigate Canterbury to get about 1000 tourists out of Kaikoura, Stuff.co.nz reports.

The Air Force could also use its smaller planes, he said.

This woman’s house in Kekerengu moved about 15 metres during the quake.

Updated

Looks like New Zealanders have been heeding advice to stock up on essentials.

Some more images courtesy of Alex Perrottet/RNZ.

Damage at Bluff Station between Blenheim & Kaikoura.
Damage at Bluff Station between Blenheim & Kaikoura. Photograph: Alex Perrottet/RNZ
An aerial view of the property and surrounding lands.
An aerial view of the property and surrounding lands. Photograph: Alex Perrottet/RNZ

Updated

Another update from Kaikoura:

Six people with significant injuries have been flown to Christchurch, while 15 remain with cuts, bruises and broken bones.

One house has reportedly been “flattened” in the town.

Meanwhile, a specialist New Zealand search and rescue team has arrived in Kaikoura to assess damaged buildings.

The 20-strong team were deployed with two rescue dogs from Christchurch and another 20 members remain on stand-by in the city.

Search and rescue teams in North Island have joined emergency response efforts in Wellington as they help assess buildings using drone surveillance.

Extra police have been drafted in to help the community.

Updated

Bridget Bull has emailed from Raglan in North Island, where the water system has been affected.

No damage at all except our water supply. Water restrictions in place because the stream that fills our reservoir was compromised during the quake. We have water but it’s limited. Reservoir being filled by tankers at present. Bought extra drinking water. Hesitant about the storm that’s coming. Thoughts are with our friends on the South Island

She sent in this photograph of baby Rita asleep next to the emergency water:

Baby Rita sharing her buggy with some emergency water.
Baby Rita sharing her buggy with some emergency water. Photograph: Bridget Bull

There are concerns for the safety of farm animals in quake-hit areas.

Updated

A group of 16 rafters who were briefly feared missing on the flooded Clarence River have been found safe and well. Six kayakers are also unaccounted for, but their kayaks and supplies have been found and search teams believe they have made for higher ground.

Updated

Images from the NZ Defence Force’s Sgt Sam Shepherd.

Packing to board an NZDF helicopter
Packing to board an NZDF helicopter Photograph: SGT Sam Shepherd/NZDF
Rail tracks shifted by a landslide.
Rail tracks shifted by a landslide. Photograph: SGT Sam Shepherd/NZDF
Damage and scenes in the aftermath of an earthquake in New Zealand.
An aerial view showing an extensive coastal landslide. Photograph: SGT Sam Shepherd/NZDF

Updated

My colleague Anna Livsey has put together this before and after composite of a stretch of State Highway 1, showing how the road looked before the earthquake struck (bottom picture) and how it looks now.

Damage along State Highway 1 after an earthquake in New Zealand on the night of 13/14 November 2016.
Damage along State Highway 1 after an earthquake in New Zealand on the night of 13/14 November 2016. Composite: NZ Transport Agency/Google Maps

Clarence River dam breached

Residents have been urged to seek higher ground immediately.

More images of destruction are emerging from the town of Waiau, where photos show severe damage to houses and a church.

One truck driver has had a very lucky escape.

The aftershocks continue ...

Jasmijn de Boo, who recently arrived in New Zealand from Britain, had just fallen asleep in Wellington when the quake hit.

I travelled from the UK and arrived in NZ for work two weeks ago (having never visited before), and had only been in Wellington for nine days when I experienced the earthquake last night.

The week had already been filled by wild weather, with storms and lots of rainfall. As I had just fallen asleep I felt the shake at midnight and I thought it must have been gusts of wind, as the previous Sunday I had experienced two gusts of wind of 117km/h which shook the house where I am temporarily staying.

But the shake continued and then a few books fell of a shelf when it started to dawn on me that it was an earthquake. My host soon checked on me to see if I was OK. The aftershocks kept us alert, and then, after an hour or so, we received warnings of possible tsunami. As I’m staying by the waterfront, we kept an eye on the water level. It quickly rose and receded by around a metre all through the night.

At 3:45am the call was made to get into the car and drive to higher ground. We waited for nearly two hours, approximately 20m above sea level, where we could see the water and the house, after which we decided to go back. After 40 minutes of sleep my colleague rang to make arrangements for staff not to go into the office. As the CBD is mostly locked down, most staff wouldn’t be able to get to the office. Some of us are working from home.

John Key: damage in Kaikoura 'will take years to clean up'

Updated

Gaming YouTuber Omega was in the middle of recording a video when the quake struck.

Far from being frightened or even concerned by the strong shaking, he excitedly proclaims: “We’re actually having an earthquake” and seems to be enjoying himself.

Normally bustling Wellington is deserted today as residents heed the call from authorities urging them to stay away.

Damage to Kiwirail network ‘significant’

Updated

NZ Transport Agency 'working urgently' to clear roads

The latest NZTA release says it is trying to reopen roads affected by the earthquake where it is safe to do so, but “there are many sites affected on State Highways 1 and 7”.

State Highway 1, Picton to Blenheim/Seddon is now open but Seddon to Cheviot remains closed. Cheviot to Christchurch is open.

Neil Walker, Transport Agency highway manager:

We are aware that communities have been cut off by slips and we are working urgently with other agencies such as Police, KiwiRail and local authorities to coordinate efforts ensuring people are transported out of closed areas safely, and roads or alternative routes are open and safe to use as soon as possible.”

“We are aware that communities have been cut off by slips and we are working urgently with other agencies such as Police, KiwiRail and local authorities to coordinate efforts ensuring people are transported out of closed areas safely, and roads or alternative routes are open and safe to use as soon as possible.”

Mr Walker said it was too soon to tell how long it will take to assess the damage on all the upper South Island highways in order to open routes, or open up safe detour routes.

Kaikoura, which means “to eat crayfish”, is a popular town for both New Zealanders and international travellers alike.
The community of about 2,000 people is located where the snow-capped Southern Alps meet the rugged coastline of the Pacific ocean – some of New Zealand’s most striking landscape.

Kaikoura, about two and a half hours drive north of Christchurch, is a year-round whale-watching destination. Air and sea tours give visitors the chance to see migrating sperm whales as well as humpback, minke, pilot and blue whales.

The tours attract more than 100,000 people each year to the town.

Michael Slezak, Guardian Australia’s environment reporter, has pulled together an explainer on what caused the earthquake.

Most NZ’s South Island is on a plate called the Pacific plate. But the northern part of South Island (and all of North Island) sit on the Australian plate. The boundary between the two is exactly where the earthquake occurred.

At the location of the quake, the Pacific plate is moving roughly west at about 40mm a year relative to the Australian plate. In very general terms, that movement is causing the two plates to collide, creating tension which is released in earthquakes.

Read the full story here:

What we know so far

  • A 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit near Hanmer Springs in the north of South Island, New Zealand at 12.02am.
  • Two people are confirmed dead.
  • Several main roads and rail lines have been badly damaged and are impassable.
  • Thousands of people were evacuated to high ground after a tsunami warning was issued. The warnings were lifted, but people remain advised to stay away from water ways due to strong waves and currents.
  • Kaikoura, a town of about 2000 people, has been almost completely isolated with roads closed and phone lines down. There is a state of emergency in place for the town. The first rescue teams to reach the town report no serious injuries.
  • There are now severe weather warnings for the northern parts of South Island, which could hamper the response effort.
  • There are fears over the swelling of the Clarence River. If it bursts its banks the resulting floodwater could threaten farms downstream.
  • Scientists think the quake might have actually been two quakes in separate faults.
  • A strong 6.8 magnitude aftershock hit near Cheviot in South Island.
  • Prime minister John Key is touring the affected region by helicopter.
  • A 110-year-old woman has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed homestead.
  • Residents have been advised to boil drinking water in the town of Raglan, after water supplies were affected by the quake.

Updated

This was the scene that greeted a Newshub reporter on his arrival in Waiau, one of the towns close to the epicentre of the quake that was cut off:

A little update from the rescue effort inside Kaikoura, including the good news that emergency teams have not had to treat any badly injured people.

100-year-old woman pulled from rubble of collapsed homestead

The New Zealand Herald reports that centenarian Margaret Edgar has been rescued from the Elms Homestead near Kaikoura, where one other person died. The building was completely destroyed by the quake. Edgar had lived there since 1952.

State of emergency declared in Kaikoura

With phone lines still down, there is continuing concern for people in Kaikoura. The town is a tourist hot spot where visitors can go whale and dolphin watching on the water and from the air.

As we reported below, police say people in the town should be contactable via phone soon.

Updated

This stretch of railway has been shunted over a road and down a hill towards the sea.

Stuart Ross in Wellington has emailed in with his experience of the quake.

Biggest quake I have felt in my 12 years in NZ.

Sometimes you get the odd jolt that wakes you up but last night the jolt just kept on getting stronger as the house shook around me and things fell onto the floor, the house was moving side to side and it was hard to stand, that’s when you know it’s BIG.

Not at work today just staying away from the city as civil defence has asked people to stay away from the CBD and I have packed a rucksack with water and supplies ready for the next aftershock which I am sure will come.

I am beginning to think I can predict them as last week I said to a friend I feel like a quake is due, it has been too long.

It is a scary act of God that leaves us feeling vulnerable and small, in Wellington the earthquake followed torrential downpours and tonight gale force winds. O joy!!

Updated

As Kaikoura is cut off by road and telecommunications, people are reaching out on social media trying to communicate to see if their family members and friends are safe.

But there has been good news for some.

The town is expected to be reconnected to mobile phone service shortly.

Updated

John Key is in a helicopter flying over affected areas to survey the damage.

The strong aftershock was felt by Mark Gilbert, US ambassador to New Zealand & Samoa.

More images of severe damage to roads are emerging. The task facing reconstruction teams is huge.

Local residents Chris and Viv Young look at damage caused by an earthquake along State Highway One near the town of Ward.
Local residents Chris and Viv Young look at damage caused by an earthquake along State Highway One near the town of Ward. Photograph: Anthony Phelps/Reuters
Members of the public gather by the Hanmer Springs Civil Defence information board.
Members of the public gather by the Hanmer Springs Civil Defence information board. Photograph: David Alexander/EPA
German tourists Robin Tohermes (L) and Niels Gallo sit by their car at a traffic jam by the Hanmer Springs road cordon.
German tourists Robin Tohermes (L) and Niels Gallo sit by their car at a traffic jam by the Hanmer Springs road cordon. Photograph: David Alexander/EPA

Updated

6.8 magnitude aftershock hits

The largest earthquake since the main 7.5 quake overnight occurred just now, just after 1.35pm. The magnitude 6.8 quake struck 30km north of the town of Cheviot, which lies on the east of the South Island, south of Kaikoura.

Updated

Wellington infrastructure 'held up really well'

Justin Lester, the mayor of Wellington City Council, has said more detailed assessments of buildings had been carried out in the capital city.

A number of buildings need some work, but in the most part the infrastructure held up really well. We won’t be entering our own council buildings tomorrow at this stage.”

All the roads, tunnels and bridges are operational in Wellington, he said.

Raglan resident have been advised to boil their water for the next three days.

The Waikato District Council said the “normally crystal clear” spring that feeds the town’s treatment plant had been discoloured by the quake.

While the water that is currently in the reservoir is safe to drink, Council will begin to re-supply the water from the spring this afternoon and we are asking people to boil their drinking water for one minute over the next three days as a precautionary measure.

This is on the advice from the Ministry of Health while further tests are being carried out. We believe the risk is low but this is a safety precaution to make sure everyone is kept safe.

In the meantime, we also urge residents to continue reducing their non-essential water.

There will be a lot of cleaning up to do in offices, art galleries and public buildings in Wellington, where the shaking from the quake caused mayhem.

'It felt as though it wasn't going to stop'

We are getting some descriptions of what it was like when the earthquake struck Wellington in the middle of the night.

Nick Edwards, in the suburb of Petone, writes:

We’re used to earthquakes but that one was the longest, most violent one we’ve experienced.

We were lying in bed thinking “this is a strong one” ... then the quake *really* started. Rolled out of bed onto the floor. It felt as though it wasn’t going to stop as the the shaking got worse, watching the walls flex and expecting the coving to come down, listening to the bangs and cracks and groans and creaks from the building. Then big flashes from outside and showers of sparks and all the lights went out. Super scary.

We grabbed the emergency kit and loaded in the kids’ clothes and watched Twitter. Once the tsunami report came through we were in the car and up to Maungaraki. As more people heeded the warnings and drove up the hill it became quite a party atmosphere. Imagine everyone parked up on the side of the road, looking out over the Hutt Valley lights, sharing stories of not being able to find the cats and other ordinary problems. One of those surreal moments.

Today has been a story of no power, aftershock after aftershock and keeping the kids occupied and distracted. Based on previous experience we can expect at least one more big one. But all you can do is ignore it and get back to work.

Rachel from North Wellington said it was the worst quake she had felt for 20 years:

No damage at our house, up a hill on rock, but the quake was very loud, very long and very scary. The house shook for ages. Nothing fell over though. Bizarrely enough 3 of 5 of our family slept right through it. I wasn’t one of them.

We have twins who are year 11, at different schools who were both due to sit their NCEA science exam today (GCSE equivalent). My son’s school went ahead with it, although school is closed to classes; my daughter’s school is in town where the damage has been much worse, and they called off the exam. As a result there are plenty of extremely stressed students out there who did not do well in their practice exams, which will be used in place of the real thing to derive their final subject grade. As far as I know, no option to resit.

Small worries though in the big scheme of things. We are thankful that we are safe and our loved ones are safe too and our thoughts are with those communities who have been affected far worse.

Getting lots of aftershocks, although there are galeforce winds building up and the house is shaking from that as well!

Bunkering down listening to the fabulous National Radio programme to give us updates and lots of tea and coffee.

The New Zealand department of foreign affairs and trade has published some information for visitors to the country and New Zealanders overseas following the quake.

It says visitors should continue to follow instructions of civil defence authorities in your region and the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) website. Those overseas with concerns about loved ones that they cannot reach directly should contact their local embassy or high commission.

State highway 1, which runs up the east of South Island, seems to have sustained a significant amount of damage.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has said that part of SH1 between Blenheim and Wairapa is closed due to earthquake damage.

Map showing part of SH1 that is closed due to earthquake damage.
Map showing part of SH1 that is closed due to earthquake damage. Photograph: NZ Transport Agency

This is what the road looked like before the earthquake struck:

A stretch of State Highway 1 in New Zealand which is now closed due to a landslide.
A stretch of State Highway 1 in New Zealand which is now closed due to a landslide. Photograph: Google/Google maps

Stuff.co.nz have modelled the swarm of aftershocks that hit following the quake.

Updated

At least 25 buildings damaged in Wellington

The latest weather forecast includes rain and severe gale warnings, all of which could hamper rescue efforts.

Updated

'Like a massive firework display'

Nathaniel Ballard was in Hamilton, in the top of the North Island, when the quake hit. He sent in this description:

We felt the quake all the way up here in the North. Our house was rocking and all electricity was lost. Every transformer surrounding our neighbourhood literally blew up. It was like a massive fireworks display. Definitely spooky as we’ve never experienced an earthquake before .

Neighbours were all outside at 12.30am scared and hugging each other. Fortunately nobody was hurt near us but still quite terrifying.

This house is situated right on the Kekerengu fault line, near Kaikoura.

Fears over swelling Clarence River

Eleanor Ainge Roy reports that the Clarence River in South Island has had a major landslip and is rapidly swelling. There is a threat to farms downstream if it bursts.

Updated

Images are emerging of the extensive damage to roads resulting from the quake. This photograph was taken near Oaro, south of Kaikoura.

Damage from an earthquake in New Zealand on 14 November 2016.
Damage from an earthquake in New Zealand on 14 November 2016. Photograph: NZ Transport Agency

Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has joined the rescue effort.

A tsunami warning is still in place for some marine areas and beaches.

Reports of looting

Sadly, there have been reports of looting in the aftermath of the quake.

New Zealand’s Newshub website reported that a Christchurch family who fled their home after the earthquake returned hours later to find they had been been robbed.

They’ve just ransacked the house, it’s horrible, it’s terrible,” said Melissa Mill.[We’re] pretty shaken, pretty disgusted, disheartened.”

Wellington a 'ghost town'

Witnesses have described the capital as a “ghost town” after authorities warned people to stay away from Wellington.

A little bit of news that might cheer up students in the wake of the earthquake - some school exams have been postponed.

Kristine Kilkelly, the New Zealand Qualifcations Authority chief executive, has said high school scholarship exams have been cancelled. National high school examinations will go ahead in schools that were unaffected by the earthquakes, she said.
NZQA said students from schools that were closed would be able to resit exams, but schools could also apply for grades to be assessed based on the results of their trial exams. NCEA exams will continue as normal for all schools unaffected by Monday’s earthquakes.

Red Cross 'struggling to get relief workers in'

Andrew McKie, spokesman for the Red Cross, has said the organisation is struggling to get relief workers into affected regions. There were about 50 volunteers on standby with equipment trying to get into the area, he said. A disaster relief team from Blenheim has arrived and a team from Nelson was also on its way.

Hello, I am picking up the blog from Michael as New Zealand continues to count the cost of its latest severe earthquake.

A little update on transport problems caused by the quake:

Images of rail lines in the affected area show some of the problems with getting trains through.

Updated

Summary

I’m about to hand over to my colleague Bonnie Malkin. Before I go, here’s what we know so far.

  • A M 7.5 earthquake hit near Hanmer Springs in the north of South Island, New Zealand at 12.02am.
  • Two people are confirmed dead.
  • Thousands of people were evacuated to high ground after a Tsunami warning was issued. The warnings were lifted, but people remain advised to stay away from water ways due to strong waves and currents.
  • Kaikoura, a town of about 2000 people, has been almost completely isolated with roads closed and phone lines down.
  • There are now severe weather warnings for the northern parts of South Island, which could hamper the response effort.
  • Scientists think the quake might have actually been two quakes in separate faults.

PM John Key confirms two people have died in the quake.

John Key confirms two deaths in New Zealand earthquake

Updated

I just got this report in from a colleague in New Zealand. Felicity Perry from Melbourne, Australia is visiting her mother near Wellington.

I woke up and thought okay it’s an earthquake and stayed in bed, but it kept going and things started falling off walls.

A cast iron pan flew from the back of stove onto the floor. I dived out of the bed, and starting holding on to doorway and screaming out for my sister. Growing up with earthquakes you learn to deal with them, but this was the scariest earthquake I have experienced.”

Her mother Glynis was in Hutt Hospital, housed in a building from the 1970s. She says it moved from side to side. Glynis was barely able to move as she’d had major surgery. She was on the fourth floor, but mustered all her strength to crawl from her bed.

Today there’s a major crack on the wall of the hospital, engineers have been walking around assessing the damage.

Felicity Perry described the roads around the Hutt Valley as being crazy as people fled Wellington heading for higher ground and hilly areas.

Updated

People wait in Te Aro Park in Wellington after being evacuated from nearby buildings in the middle of the night.
People wait in Te Aro Park in Wellington after being evacuated from nearby buildings in the middle of the night. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
Groceries litter the aisle at the New World Supermarket in Miramar.
Groceries litter the aisle at the New World Supermarket in Miramar. Photograph: Ross Setford/EPA
A tsumani warning sign at Waipara. Much of the country’s east coast was warned of the possibility of a tsunami reaching up to 1m.
A tsumani warning sign at Waipara. Much of the country’s east coast was warned of the possibility of a tsunami reaching up to 1m. Photograph: David Alexander/AAP
A road cordon on state highway 7A near the Waiau Ferry Bridge.
A road cordon on state highway 7A near the Waiau Ferry Bridge. Photograph: David Alexander/AAP

Updated

GNS Science has a graphic on their website showing a history of “notable” earthquakes in New Zealand since 1848.

GNS also has this info on its site about the biggest-ever quake in New Zealand, which involved some astounding land movements:

The biggest NZ earthquake - magnitude 8.2 Wairarapa earthquake in 1855.

On an international scale, the 1855 earthquake is of major significance in terms of the area affected and the amount of fault movement. About 5000km2 of land was shifted vertically during the quake. The maximum uplift was 6.4m near Turakirae Head, east of Wellington. The maximum horizontal movement along the fault was about 18m. This is the largest displacement along a vertical fault line ever recorded!

A press release from the New Zealand parliament confirms that prime minister John Key has postponed a trip to Argentina in the wake of the earthquakes.

Prime Minister John Key has today postponed his trip to Argentina, but intends to travel to Peru later this week to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting from November 19-20 if circumstances permit.

Mr Key was scheduled to depart tomorrow for Buenos Aires, Argentina for a series of meetings aimed at strengthening New Zealand’s trade, economic and political ties with the region, before travelling to Lima to attend APEC.

As a result of last night’s earthquake, Mr Key has made the decision to postpone his visit to Argentina.

“The situation is still unfolding and we don’t yet know the full extent of the damage,” Mr Key says.

“I believe it is better that I remain in New Zealand in the coming days to offer my assistance and support until we have a better understanding of the event’s full impact.

“I want to thank Civil Defence and emergency services around the country who responded so rapidly, and also those New Zealanders who supported the large number of people who were evacuated.

“My officials have conveyed our apologies to the Argentine Government and I intend to call President Mauricio Macri in the next few days,” Mr Key says.

The decision on whether the trip to APEC will go ahead will be made later this week.

Here are a few updates about the situation in various areas affected by the quakes, with thanks to colleagues in New Zealand who helped gather this:

Blenheim

Road from Blenheim to Picton is closed, Interislander ferry service between Picton and Wellington is not operating, with passengers stranded in both Picton and Wellington. Some traveller are staying inside the New Zealand Parliamentary buildings, in the beehive.

Emergency services are reporting they expect the ferry service to begin operations some time today.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura, is cut off on both sides by large slips that have tumbled down the dramatic cliff faces along State Highway 1, the coastal highway.
Adjacent to the coastal highway is a railway track that runs alongside the cliff, the force of the earthquake has lifted it up, toward the opposite side of the road and almost into the sea.
Kaikoura is town on the east coast of the south Island of New Zealand, located on State Highway 1, 180km north of Christchurch. It has a population is about 2,000.
Residents are still cut off from communication, with all mobile communication and emails down.

Wellington

The Wellington railway station has been closed and will undergo inspection due to the damage from the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.

New Zealand’s Civil defence have advised people to stay off beaches and out of the water. They have advised people to stay indoors and not go sight seeing

I just received this from a colleague in New Zealand:

Blenheim resident Chris Thoms, 60, was in bed In Blenheim with her husband when the earthquake struck.

“It started off slowly, and then escalated beyond anything we’ve ever felt. I held my husband’s hand and said ‘this is it, I think it’s all over’.”

She described what felt like severe sharp jolts, that threw items off shelves and from the cupboards throughout their houses.

Once the quake stopped, they left the house, stood on the streets with all their neighbours checking in with each other.

Caroline Little from GeoNet in New Zealand said on Radio New Zealand the movement of parks of South Island 2 meters north was “pretty incredible”.

Little said that while some of the major earthquakes in New Zealand over the past decade have involved a lot of vertical movement, this quake was dominated by horizontal movement.

Here’s a little info about the history of quakes in this Northern part of South Island.

According the the US Geological Survey, this plate boundary has a large history of major quakes, but last night’s M 7.5 was the largest there since 1929.

In June 1929, there was a M 7.3 quake 100km to the northwest of last night’s quake. That event occurred just three months after another major quake just 90km west-southwest of last night’s.

And of course, around Christchurch, about 100km north of the new quake, there was a series of very damaging quakes between 2010 and 2015. That included a M 7.0 one west of Christchurch in September 2010, and another M 6.1 directly beneath the city in February 2011.

Updated

The US Geological Survey says the quakes occurred in a very complex tectonic region, making interpreting the exact nature of the quake hard to infer.

But it appeared to happen on or near the boundary between the Pacific and the Australian plate in South Island, New Zealand.

In that region, the Pacific plate moves at about 40mm southwest each year, into the Australian plate.

Earthquakes occur when tension built up by that movement is finally released, as the two plates slip past one another.

There is confusion about the nature of the quake, since the size, depth and structure of the quake suggests it occurred in a subduction zone but it wasn’t thought that a subduction zone extended into that area.

The US Geological Survey also confirms what we reported earlier, saying there could be more than one fault involved in the quakes.

Updated

Some of the images coming in of the land movement in Kaikoura are quite amazing. Here is one of Stuart Smith, the MP for Kaikoura, standing in a giant crack in a road.

Updated

There are now concerns about water in the affected regions, with farmers in Ward reporting they will have trouble keeping their stock watered.

And some residents are saying drinking water has gone murky.

Updated

If you are in any regions affected by the quakes in New Zealand and have photographs of damage, tweet them to me at @mikeyslezak and I’ll try to get them up on the liveblog.

According to Kelvin Berryman from GNS Science, parts of New Zealand have moved 2 metres north as a result of the quakes. He said on Radio New Zealand GPS measurements at one of the northern measurements sites appeared to move about 2 metres after the quakes.

The New Zealand Herald is reporting there have been three possible cases of homes being looted, following evacuations.

As of 9am Christchurch police had received three reports of burglaries which Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price said “appear to have occurred while people were evacuated following the earthquakes”.

“Police will investigate each report as usual and are absolutely confident we can deal with normal crime as well as the earthquake response and reassurance,” Price told the Herald.

Possibly making matters worse for residents and emergency service workers in New Zealand, a severe weather warning has been issued for some of the areas affected by the quakes.

The New Zealand MetService is warning of gale force winds and “heavy thundery rain”. It’s likely to mostly affect the West Coast, the MetService said.

The MetService reports:

Severe gale north to northwest winds are forecast to develop in exposed parts of Wellington, Wairarapa and Marlborough Monday evening, then ease on Tuesday. Winds of this strength could lift roofs, damage trees and cause hazardous driving conditions.

Geoscience New Zealand: two separate quakes may be to blame

Kelvin Berryman from GNS Science has told Radio New Zealand the earthquake is increasingly looking like two separate quakes.

Berryman said the quake started in one in the Southern part of the area that was impacted, and then “very quickly” moved North. He said it appears the two quakes occurred in two different faults, although it’s not yet clear exactly which ones.

He said scientists are now trying to figure out which faults were involved, and how that has affected other faults – and whether that could be adding stress to those faults or not.

Berryman said Geoscience New Zealand will be putting out some “scenarios” out there as they develop some hypotheses. He expected to get those out today, and then would revise them as more information was at hand.

Updated

The US Geological Survey says the has some interesting detail about the history of earthquakes in the region. Last night’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake is the largest in the region since 1929, when a 7.3 earthquake struck 100 km to the northwest. The June 1929 earthquake occurred just three months after the March 1929 Arthur’s Pass strike-slip earthquake, 90 km to the west-southwest of the last night’s event.

The USGS says the quake occurred as the result of a “shallow oblique-reverse faulting on or near the boundary between the Pacific and Australia plates in South Island, New Zealand”. The Pacific plate moves to the west-southwest about 40 mm a year.

My colleague Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin has filed a full report on the earthquake in New Zealand.

She reports some comments from the New Zealand prime minister:

The prime minister, John Key, said the quake was the most significant he could remember feeling in Wellington.

“I know from the Christchurch earthquakes how much it undermines people’s confidence, but I want to reassure people that there will be support there. It was a very significant shock.”

Key said he was unable to give further information on the fatalities until authorities had confirmed all the details. He said officials had no reason to believe the death toll would rise.

“On the very best information we have at the moment, we think it’s only likely to be two. But of course there are isolated parts of the country which we don’t have perfect eyes on, so we can’t be 100% sure,” he said.

You can read the full report here.

Australian Associated Press reports that the New Zealand dollar has fallen to its lowest level in about a month after last night’s quake.

The kiwi fell to 70.88 US cents as at 8am in Wellington, from 71.26 cents in late New York trading on Friday. The trade-weighted index fell to 76.97 from 77.21.

“The kiwi was under pressure against the US dollar last week but this morning it is all about the earthquake,” said ANZ’s Philip Borkin.

“Until we get greater clarity I think the bias will remain to the downside.” Until then, it wasn’t clear if the latest quakes would have the economic impact of the Christchurch quakes or amount to a minor shutdown in Wellington, he said. “Markets don’t like uncertainty.”

The local currency fell to 75.54 yen from 75.99 yen on Friday in New York. It fell to 93.84 Australian cents from 94.35 cents and declined to 4.8235 yuan from 4.8521 yuan, dropped to 56.21 British pence from 56.52 pence and slipped to 65.42 euro cents from 65.62 cents.

Aerial footage from helicopters surveying the damage has shown massive landslides cutting off roads in New Zealand.

News Now has posted the footage to their website and Facebook:

And residents in New Zealand are posting images to Twitter of damage around the country.

Updated

My colleague Paul Karp reports:

Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has spoken to Channel Seven’s Sunrise about the New Zealand quake.

He said:
“I spoke with John Key a few moments ago. I assured him of absolute solidarity and support from Australia. John appreciated that. He knows that we support them when it comes to emergencies and natural disasters.”
Turnbull did not offer any details about what support Australia would be prepared to provide.

He offered condolences:

“So far they have reports of two deaths, and be passed on our condolences there. But obviously, it is early days. [John Key] is a great leader. New Zealand is very experienced with dealing with earthquakes, and I am sure he will have the matter in hand.”

Sarah Stuart-Black, director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management in New Zealand, told Radio New Zealand that the areas they remain most concerned about are the areas for which there remains a tsunami warning – coastal areas from Napier to north of Dunedin, Cook Straight coastal areas and The Chatham Islands.

She reiterated that people in those areas should stay away from beaches, rivers and estuaries, as there could be large waves and unusual currents.

Wellington city workers told to stay at home

It is now 9am in New Zealand and the full impact of the overnight 7.5 magnitude earthquake is beginning to be understood. Power is out and phone lines are still down in some areas and roads have cracked and sunk by up to half a metre, restricting access by emergency services.

The small North Canterbury township of Waiau is feared to be worst hit along with Kaikoura, the scene of one of the casualties. Paramedics are being flown by helicopter to Hanmer Springs and Kaikoura, where a command unit is being established.

New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, has suffered some damage with workers in the city centre told to stay home. Ships and ferries are waiting in the harbour until authorities can assess the damage to wharves before they dock, which is expected to be in the mid-afternoon.

Wellington City Council posted an update stating that it was likely not all buildings would be able to be made safe and there was a risk the forecast winds of up to 140kmh could bring glass and other materials into the streets.

Updated

Although authorities say the the main tsunami threat has now passed, people are still being warned to stay off the beaches on the east coast

There has been concern for those in the coastal town of Kaikoura, which is popular with tourists, after it was cut off.

Located near the epicentre, it appears to be one of the hardest hit areas, and officials are hoping to get a better understanding of the damage once the sun rises.

He said military helicopters have been dispatched to Kaikoura to assess the damage and help those worst hit.

Two fatalities confirmed

Prime Minister John Key has just told a press conference in New Zealand that there have been two fatalities.

Updated

One person has been confirmed to have died according to New Zealand police:

“One casualty has been reported at a collapsed property in Kaikora. Police are also trying to access a property at Mt Lyford north of Christchurch where a further casualty has been reported, which is believed to be a fatality.”

Updated

Tsunami warning lifted

The Dunedin Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) has confirmed that the main tsunami threat has now passed, however people should remain vigilant and stay off beaches.

Dunedin Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) advises that the main tsunami threat has now passed, however people should remain vigilant and stay off beaches.

The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has downgraded the earlier tsunami warning land threat from the East Cape to Southland including Wellington and the Chatham Islands to a marine and beach threat only

Dunedin CDEM has in response lifted the state of emergency for Dunedin.

People who evacuated from low lying coastal areas can now return home.

While the main threat has passed, people should continue to be vigilant as aftershocks continue. All people should continue to:

1. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)

2. Stay off beaches and shore areas

3. Do not go sightseeing

4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends

5. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates

6. Follow instructions of local civil defence authorities


Updated

Our reporter in New Zealand, Eleanor Ainge Roy, says it may be a couple of hours until we get more details on casualties as roads to some of the worst hit areas are impassable.

Wellington City Council has asked workers based in the city centre to stay at home today “owing to potential damage to buildings and disruptions to public transport.”

Wellington Regional Civil Defence Controller Bruce Pepperell says early indications are that a number of major buildings are showing “signs of structural stress” and that the strong quake will likely have caused a mess and disruption inside some buildings – particularly on higher floors.

First casualties confirmed

Our reporter on the ground in New Zealand, Eleanor Ainge Roy, says the country’s Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has just confirmed the first casualties from the earthquake in the town of Kaikoura, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

She is trying to get more details.

Updated

After shocks, some of them powerful, are still hitting New Zealand according to monitor Geonet.

Here is the latest release from New Zealand’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management:

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) has issued a tsunami warning (marine and land threat) from East Cape to Southland, including Wellington (which also includes the Cook Straight area), Marlborough Sounds/Tasman Bay and the Chatham Islands, and a marine threat for all other New Zealand coastal areas.

Areas under ‘Marine and Land Threat’ can also expect a threat of coastal inundation to land areas near the shore. Current assessments indicate that waves of up to 3-5 metres along the coastlines closest to the earthquake epicentre (estimated from Blenheim to Banks Peninsula, and also including the Chatham Islands) can be expected in some areas (see attached map).

The remainder of the east coast can expect waves of up to 1-3 metres. Areas under ‘Marine and Beach Threat’ can expect unusually strong currents and unpredictable water flows near the shore.

This means a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities. The severity of currents and changing water flows will vary within a particular coastal area and over the period this warning is in effect.

People in the all coastal areas should: 1. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities) 2. Stay off beaches and shore areas 3. Do not go sightseeing 4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends 5. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates 6. Follow instructions of local civil defence authorities 7. If a land threat is forecasted for your area, take appropriate evasive action.

Updated

What we know so far

  • A severe earthquake has hit New Zealand’s South Island in the early hours of Monday morning.
  • The initial, largest quake was magnitude 7.5 and 15km deep, according to monitor Geonet. Its epicentre was 15 km north-east of Culverden, close to Hanmer Springs, at 12.02am local time (New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of GMT).
  • Tsunamis have been created by the quake, and people on the east coast of both South and North Islands have been told by civil defence and via emergency sirens to leave immediately for high ground.
  • New Zealand civil defence says the first waves have arrived, but more – and larger – are expected in the coming hours.
Evacuated hotel guests gather in a carpark in Wellington.
Evacuated hotel guests gather in a carpark in Wellington. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
  • That huge temblor – and as many as 45 resulting aftershocks – have been felt as far south as Dunedin in the south of South Island (where a state of emergency has been declared), and to Auckland in the north.
  • Areas of highest concern include Kaikoura – an east coast South Island town north of Christchurch – and the capital, Wellington. Residents of both have been evacuated.
  • There has been no official confirmation of casualties but St John ambulance services is deploying rescue helicopters to Kaikoura, along with additional paramedics.
A large fissure runs along Kaikoura Road about two hours north of Christchurch.
A large fissure runs along Kaikoura Road about two hours north of Christchurch. Photograph: Joe Morgan/AP
  • Reports and images show damage to roads, bridges and buildings across the islands. Power is out in many towns on the South Island east coast, including Picton, Blenheim and Kaikoura.
  • The Chatham Islands, 680km southeast of NZ, is also on tsunami alert.

I’m now handing over this live blog to colleagues in London, who will continue to update the story as it unfolds.

At least 45 aftershocks

There have been at least 45 aftershocks since the first 7.5 magnitude quake shook New Zealand awake shortly after midnight.

Of these aftershocks, Geonote, the New Zealand monitor, has recorded five severe quakes, ranging from magnitude 5.6 to 7.5; and nine further quakes registered as “strong”.

Updated

Towards Cheviot, close to the epicentre of the first, largest quake, roads have suffered damage and there have been landslides:

At the moment, we do not have confirmation of any injuries.

But my colleague Eleanor Ainge Roy reports from New Zealand that news is starting to circulate of possible injuries as a result of the quake.

A building is reported to have collapsed in Kaikoura, with residents not yet accounted for.

Reports are sketchy because telecommunications to the town are cut as a result of quake damage.

There are also reports of major damage to roads and infrastructure in Kaikoura.

St John ambulance services are reporting some injuries, and additional helicopters and paramedics have been called up.

First tsunami waves arrive

NZ civil defence says the first waves have arrived “but may not be the largest”. It says the threat – and the waves – could continue for some hours.

It has warned that coastlines closest to the epicentre can expect waves up to 3-5m higher than normal. This covers Blenheim to the Banks peninsula, as well as the Chatham Islands, the dark blue areas shown on the map.

It warns that the rest of the east coast can also expect increased waves of 1-3m higher than usual.

People in all coastal areas are warned to stay away from beaches and out of the water.

Updated

Simon Morton and his family were woken by the “super slow roller” quake just after midnight. Morton and his wife Jo live in the seaside Wellington suburb of Lyall Bay – just seven to eight metres from the sea.

Morton made the immediate decision to evacuate his family to higher ground and packed the family in his truck and drove them to View Street, nearly 80m above sea level.

After 40 minutes and no further serious activity, Morton and his family returned to their home. Just as he was getting into bed Morton noticed the tide was the lowest he had ever seen. His wife Jo said it was “very weird” and the couple made the decision to again evacuate.

The family are now on View Street where they have been joined by a steady stream of cars – he estimates as many as 60-100.

People have brought their cats and dogs and are sharing food and drink. Morton described the atmosphere as “super friendly”. At the moment, most evacuees on View Street plan to remain there till dawn and then make a decision about returning to their homes.

As instructed, many residents of Wellington are currently heading to higher ground. It’s currently 3.25am.

In Christchurch, emergency accommodation is being set up for those who need to leave their homes:

This map provided by New Zealand civil defence shows the areas most threatened by tsunamis: the darker blue lines indicate those most vulnerable, which includes the Chatham Islands.

New Zealand’s coast from Christchurch up to Wellington is considered at greatest risk, though people right along the east coast are being advised to seek high ground, and residents across the whole of the country are being advised to avoid beaches and coastal areas.

Emily White, 29, in inner-city Wellington felt a long “swaying shake” that lasted for two minutes just after midnight. There was no damage to the house.

She and her two flatmates took shelter under their dining room table. Windows burst outside their doors, street lights swayed and aftershocks have been ongoing.

White and her flatmates have packed an emergency bag and are walking towards the war memorial. The streets are largely quiet, White reports, but others in Wellington are reporting increasing levels of car and foot traffic, heading to higher ground on Mt Victoria and to the national war memorial in Mt Cook:

It is the strongest quake I have ever felt; it was really un-nerving.

We weren’t sure if we should leave. We are in a pretty solid modern apartment house, but we are basically on the flat in Wellington so we’re leaving.

Dunedin civil defence emergency management (CDEM) has declared a state of emergency.

Dunedin is at the far south of South Island, and not immediately close to the first quake, though aftershocks have been felt there.

The city’s CDEM has announced it will be “evacuating parts of low-lying coastal communities including Waikouaiti, Karitane, Waitati, Warrington Domain, Long Beach, Aramoana, Harwood/Harrington Point, Hoopers Inlet, Tomahawk, and Ocean View/Brighton”.

It has warned residents not to go to beaches or into the water.

Wellington’s parliament building has become an unlikely overnight stay for some evacuated hotel guests:

(It’s called the Beehive because it looks a bit like a beehive.)

Even now, further quakes are rattling Kaikoura:

A tsunami alert has been issued for Lower Hutt in the Wellington region, and tsunami sirens are ringing on the streets. The immediate foreshore area is a red zone risk.

The major areas of concern are Kaikoura and low-lying Wellington (CBD, Island Bay, Petone, Seatoun).

In Kaikoura, South Island, best known as the east coast whale-watching town north of Christchurch, road access has been cut off and residents have been moved away from the seaside to the hills.

Barry and Kathy O’Loughlin (72 and 74) live one street from the beach in Kaikoura. They have been evacuated to higher ground. Their daughter Sharon O’Loughlin, who is in Dunedin in the far south, has lost phone contact with her elderly parents but says they are “fit and strong” members of the community and would have left no one behind:

The last I heard was their house was a shambles. I spoke to Mum just as she was leaving and then the phone was cut off.

They have lost road access like they did after the Christchurch earthquake.

I am really upset, they are surrounded by water on all sides and I don’t know where the tsunami threat is coming from.

Tsunami warning sirens are sounding along the east coast.

This is from Clifton Hill looking down on Redcliffs, a seaside suburb of Christchurch, the closest city to the epicentre. (Thanks to @CodeClubNZ.)

Aftershocks – some topping 6 magnitude themselves – followed the initial shake and continue across both islands, more than two-and-a-half hours after the first temblor.

Quakes were felt as far south as Dunedin and as far north as Auckland.

Residents in Wellington, North Island, have also been advised to move to higher ground because of the threat of tsunami.

The first quake was recorded at 7.5 magnitude by Geonet, New Zealand’s authority on temblors.

The epicentre was 15 km north-east of Culverden, close to Hanmer Springs, at 12.02am local time (New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of GMT).


Geonet recorded the depth at 15 km.

Our news story on the earthquake is also being updated and you can see the latest report here:

Residents of coastal areas along the whole east coast of New Zealand – North as well as South Island, where the initial quake hit – have been told to head for high ground.

New Zealand’s civil defence also warns that a tsunami is heading for the Chatham Islands, some 680km southeast of NZ.

What we know so far

  • A severe earthquake has hit New Zealand’s South Island in the early hours of Monday morning.
  • The initial, largest quake was magnitude 7.5 and 15km deep, according to monitor Geonet.
  • Tsunamis have been created by the quake, and people on the east coast of both South and North Islands have been told by civil defence to leave immediately for high ground.
  • That huge temblor – and resulting aftershocks – have been felt as far south as Dunedin in the south of South Island, and to Auckland in the north.

We will have more information on the quake and tsunami on the live blog.

You can contact me directly on @Claire_Phipps if you are affected by the quake.

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