Another Tsunami Warning issued after magnitude 8.1 quake strikes near Kermadec Islands

Another Tsunami Warning was issued for the Pacific region following a second major magnitude 8.1 earthquake that hit off New Zealand's Kermadec Islands.

The quake struck at around 8:28 am at a depth of 10 km. It is the third recorded quake following a magnitude 7.4 near the Kermadec Islands earlier and a 7.1 off New Zealand's North Eastern Coast.

An alert was triggered for parts of New Zealand (North Eastern coastlines) and much of the South Pacific region.

Image: CC/ Civil Defence

The National Emergency Management Agency advised people on the East Coast of the North Island from the Bay of Islands to Whangārei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay including Whakatāne and Opotiki and Great Barrier to move immediately to higher ground or as far inland as they can.

TSUNAMI WARNING issued following Kermadecs earthquake. People near coast from the BAY OF ISLANDS to WHANGAREI, from MATATA to TOLAGA BAY, and GREAT BARRIER ISLAND must MOVE IMMEDIATELY to nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible

— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) March 4, 2021

Within the next three hours, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, hazardous tsunami waves were possible.

Waves could reach from 0.3 to 1 metre above the tidal level and are likely to occur around some of the costs of the French Polynesia and some other coasts of American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Pitcairn, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

Image: SUPPLIED