New Zealand cancel tsunami alert issued after quakes

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - New Zealand on Friday said a tsunami warning issued in response to powerful earthquakes that struck the island nation have been canceled.

“The National Advisory issued following the earthquakes near the Kermadac island region is canceled,” said a statement by New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency.

Earlier, powerful earthquakes measuring 8.1 and 7.3 on Richter scale hit the northern parts of New Zealand triggering a tsunami alert for the region.

The two earthquakes hit the country in less than six hours apart.

Following a government warning, people in the Bay of Islands, Whangarei, the Great Barrier Islands, and from Matata to Tolaga Bay, including Whakatane and Opotiki, rushed to high ground in the region.