UPDATE - Powerful earthquake hits east New Zealand

UPDATES WITH MINISTRY’S TSUNAMI ADVISORY

By Recep Sakar

MELBOURNE, Australia (AA) – A powerful earthquake has struck eastern New Zealand.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the magnitude 7.4 temblor struck around 93 kilometers (57.8 miles) northeast of Christchurch, the largest city in the country’s South Island, shortly after midnight Sunday.

It occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km.

There were no immediate reports of causalities or damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, however, said on its Twitter account that there was a tsunami threat for the east coast including Christchurch, Wellington and the Chatham islands.

It advised residents of coastal North Island to move inland or to higher ground.

New Zealand sits on the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.