4.30pm: The assessment below is unlikely to change.
Civil Defence said “weexpect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake near OFF THE WEST COAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND N.Z. at 2:43 PM, 25 March. Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore. People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
AREAS UNDER THREAT:
The West Coast of the South Island from MILFORD SOUND to PUYSEGUR POINT.
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:
STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS
People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.
There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:
Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.
Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this Advisory is cancelled.
3.45PM: Minister Mark Mitchell said “An Emergency Mobile Alert has been issued for the bottom of the South Island. Evacuations are NOT required but there is potential danger near the shoreline. We are asking people to stay away from the beach and water. Strong and unusual currents may be experienced.”
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A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck 140km south-west of Tuatapere, according to the Geonet website.
It was recorded at a depth of 33 kilometres at 2.43pm.
Residents in Queenstown reported feeling the “sizeable” shake.
A Timaru local said they felt the quake and saw their blinds “swaying a tad.”
Another person in Te Anau said, “It felt like we were on top of a building swaying or like being on a boat.”
A worker in Cromwell said “Upstairs in my office everything moved.”
The quake was felt as far north as Christchurch.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and scientific advisors are still assessing whether there is a threat to New Zealand from the Southland earthquake.
Minister for South Island James Meager said “I’m in touch with Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell for updates on any tsunami risk, but for now the advice is people near the coast should evacuate if they felt the earthquake for over a minute or it was strong enough to make standing difficult. Evacuate to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. Check with Civil Defence for the all clear before returning. Updates to come, hopefully just one all clear.”
