Three powerful earthquakes rocked the New Zealand coast in the late hours of Thursday, March 4th. The maximum magnitude recorded on the Richter scale was 8.1. An immediate tsunami warning was issued by the concerned authorities, whereas a tsunami watch was called out in the Hawaiian Islands.

The U.S. Geological Survey issued a statement claiming that a powerful earthquake hit the coasts of New Zealand about 620 miles in the northeast region of the country.

The residents of coastal areas also experienced two powerful earthquakes earlier that morning, with magnitudes of 7.4 and 7.3 respectively, before being hit by the 8.1 quake!

The earthquake triggered small tsunami waves, but they didn’t lead to any casualties or physical damage as per the reports.

Jennifer Eccles, a seismologist at the University of Auckland described the 8.1-magnitude earthquake as being the biggest it could get in the region.

After the staggering earthquakes, tsunami warnings were issued in New Zealand which resulted in a panic situation across the country. The Civil Defense Authorities of New Zealand have asked people living in coastal areas to move towards higher grounds. A tsunami is likely to damage the infrastructure in coastal areas. It is expected to trigger waves as high as 10 feet.

After the advisory, people started to move towards higher grounds which led to traffic jams on roads, as most people struggled to move towards remote areas to protect themselves.

The U.S Tsunami Warning Center has claimed that the tsunami waves can attain a height of 10 feet in Vanuatu, and up to 3 feet in Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, and as far as Peru and Mexico.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden took to social media to show solidarity with the devastated people, hoping that everyone out there is O.K.

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