New Zealand Hit By 5.9 Magnitude Quake, Tsunami Alert Issued
New Zealand Hit By 5.9 Magnitude Quake, Tsunami Alert Issued Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 17:08 IST A 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit NZ, near
New Zealand Hit By 5.9 Magnitude Quake, Tsunami Alert Issued Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 17:08 IST A 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit NZ, near Te Anau, on Thursday night, prompting a temporary tsunami warning. Over 18,000 residents reported shaking, with no immediate injuries. Rapid Read After a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit NZ, a tsunami warning was issued and then lifted soon after. (Image source: Reuters) New Zealand was struck by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake at 9:14PM on Thursday night local time. The earthquake was reported from the town of Te Anau in the South Island of the country. Buildings were reportedly shaking as a result of the quake. This prompted authorities to issue a tsunami warning, which was later lifted, Reuters reported. The epicentre of the earthquake was reported to be 40 km north of the town of Te Anau, informed the Emergency Management Agency of New Zealand. This town is considered the gateway of Fiordland, a place popular with the tourists. The emergency management agency also said that no immediate reports of injuries or damage have emerged so far.
Initially, the agency had read assessed that quake was of 6.3 magnitude on the Richter scale, but it was later revised downward to 5.9. It was night at the time of the quake in New Zealand. Island nation is 6 hours and 30 minutes ahead of the Indian Standard Time (IST). In India, the time was 2:44PM when this happened. With the intention to issue life-saving warnings, stations closest to the epicentre issue preliminary information regarding the magnitude of the earthquake based on the first few seismic waves (P-waves). Then, as time passes, data arrives from seismic stations further away. This allows seismologists to analyse the full spectrum of seismic waves (including slower S-waves and surface waves) and manually verify the calculations, leading to a more accurate final number. Coastal areas in the town near the earthquake’s epicentre are expected to experience “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore," the NEMA said. This is in spite the agency cancelling the tsunami alert issued by it soon after the earthquake hit.
The agency further asked people to not go into water, stay off beaches, and stay away from harbours, marinas and rivers. The earthquake was “a bit strong" and she felt shaking for a one minute, said a local resident and duty manager at Te Anau’s Fiordland Hotel, Maylene Puyat, speaking with Reuters. “In the hotel, it’s shaking, but nothing moved in the hotel," she was quoted saying. Another local resident said that the earthquake was “long and loud" and sounded “like a train", according to a local outlet Otago Daily Times. “The walls were definitely moving," they said, as quoted by the outlet. Hazard monitoring system GeoNet stated that there were more than 18,000 “felt reports". (With Reuters inputs) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What is the current risk of aftershocks in New Zealand? Following a 5.9 magnitude earthquake near Te Anau on Thursday night, seven smaller tremors were felt in the area.
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