7.4 magnitude earthquake jolts New Zealand, tsunami warning issued

New Zealand issued a tsunami warning for southern coastal areas today, following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake near the South Island city of Christchurch around midnight

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Wellington: New Zealand issued a tsunami warning for southern coastal areas today, following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake near the South Island city of Christchurch around midnight.

"A tsunami is possible," the national civil defence organisation, which is in charge of New Zealand's emergency management, said in a bulletin.

"The first wave activity may not be the most significant," it said, adding tsumanmi activity would continue for several hours.

The epicentre, with a depth of 10 km, was at 42.53 degrees south latitude and 173.05 degrees east longitude, Xinhua news agency cited the centre as saying in a statement.

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