Powerful earthquakes hit near the coast of New Zealand on Thursday night and Friday morning. The quakes soon prompted tsunami warnings for New Zealand and tsunami watches for Hawaii.
Evacuation orders were issued for residents living in coastal areas of the North Island after the third and strongest earthquake hit its coast.
The three earthquakes all came during early hours at magnitudes of over seven. The most powerful, at 8.1 magnitudes, struck at around 08:30 (21:30 GMT) near the uninhabited Kermadec Islands, 1000 km (621 miles) north-east of New Zealand.
Two earthquakes near the Kermadec Islands were felt just hours after a 7.3-magnitude quake struck near Gisborne. The latest quake, which registered at a magnitude of 8.1, prompted officials to issue a tsunami advisory across parts of the Pacific, including Hawaii.
New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency lifted evacuation orders on Friday afternoon. This was after being advised that the largest waves had passed. But people have been told to stay away from the beach and shore areas.
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