7.1 magnitude earthquake jolts off coast of New Zealand, tsunami warning issued

Wellington, Sept 2: A powerful earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale, hit the east coast of New Zealand's North Island on Friday.

The quake hit around 100 km northeast of the East Cape settlement of Te Araroa, at a depth of 55 km, The New ZealandHerald reported.

A potential tsunami threat was upgraded to a warning by Civil Defence officials shortly after 6 a.m. (local time) after the quake hit at 4.37 a.m.

New Zealand witnesses more than 15,000 earthquakes each year, but only about 150 are large enough to be felt.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agency)