New Zealand Struck By 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake
Hundreds of Aftershocks Reported
Efforts Underway to Assess Damage
At 1202 am on Monday 14 November 2016 NZDT, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck 15 km north of Te Araroa, New Zealand. The quake was felt throughout the North Island and as far south as Christchurch. Hundreds of aftershocks have been reported since the initial quake, some of them severe. The largest aftershock, measuring 6.2 magnitude, occurred at 3:40 am. Emergency services are currently responding to the quake and assessing the damage. There have been no reports of injuries or deaths, but there is significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. The quake has caused widespread power outages and disruption to communications. Roads and bridges have also been damaged, making it difficult for emergency services to reach some areas. The New Zealand government has declared a state of emergency and has activated the National Crisis Management Centre. The quake is a reminder of the seismic activity that New Zealand is prone to. New Zealand is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active region that is responsible for about 90% of the world's earthquakes.
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