Magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes Kermadec Islands, no tsunami risk to New Zealand

Gulf Today Report

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Kermadec Islands region north of New Zealand, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said on Friday.

The quake, which was revised from an initial magnitude of 6.6, was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), the USGS said.

The US tsunami warning system said the earthquake is not expected to generate a tsunami.

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Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) now says it is "unlikely" the earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region has caused a tsunami that will affect New Zealand.

The quake struck at 3:46pm on Saturday with a magnitude of 6.6. The United States Geological Survey says it hit at a depth of 10km.

NEMA and GNS Science were quick to assess the risk of a tsunami, and in an update NEMA says coastal inundation — the flooding of land areas — is not expected as a result.