New Zealand experiences 7.8-magnitude quake with several aftershocks

A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand in the early hours of Monday followed by a number of aftershocks that has damaged roads and buildings, and sparked a tsunami warning which sent thousands of people fleeing to higher ground. It was later downgraded to coastal warnings.
It has killed two people, including one of a heart attack and its epicenter was located about 57 miles northeast of Christchurch in the country's South Island.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 14 November 2016.

Due to the quake, railway tracks were ripped up and tossed 10 metres, while landslips dumped hundreds of tonnes of debris onto the main highway. In addition, electricity and phones were also down in the coastal town of Kaikoura of 2,000 residents. This town is well known among tourists since it is a base for whale-watching trips.
Prime Minister John Key flew over the destruction in Kaikoura and met locals. He has estimated that the clean-up effort would run into billions of dollars and could take months. He has cancelled a planned trip to Argentina. Incidentally, New Zealand lies on the boundary of two tectonic plates and is on the so-called 'Ring of Fire'. It is an area prone to earthquakes and experiences as many as 15,000 tremors a year.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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