7.8 magnitude earthquake in New Zealand

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake and hundreds of strong aftershocks shook New Zealand this morning, November 14, killing at least two people and forcing thousands to evacuate to higher ground due to a tsunami warning.

People sit in Te Aro Park in Wellington after authorities evacuated people from large buildings due to the earthquake - Photo: AFP

At a press conference this morning in the capital Wellington, Prime Minister John Key announced that two people had died. The earthquake also caused the capital to shake violently.

"This is the biggest earthquake I know of in Wellington. There is significant damage to transport and infrastructure," said Prime Minister Key.

In the capital, about 100 people, including children, slept on floors or outdoor benches. Many camped at the New Zealand parliament building "Beehive".

Police say they found a victim in a house in the tourist town of Kaikoura.

Emergency response teams had to use helicopters to fly to the area at the epicenter of the earthquake in northeast Christchurch, South Island, after receiving reports of injuries and collapsed buildings, Reuters reported.

The earthquake and aftershocks caused widespread power outages and communication lines while landslides disrupted traffic on many roads.

Thousands of people were also evacuated to higher ground as authorities issued a tsunami warning with large waves hitting the coasts of Wellington in the North Island and Christchurch in the South Island.

In Christchurch, tsunami sirens continued to sound as three evacuation centres took in residents. Police set up barricades to prevent many people from venturing back to their homes in low-lying coastal areas.

Images shared on social media showed cracked and warped roads while scores of shops in Wellington and the upper South Island had broken windows and shelves strewn across the ground.

New Zealand streets on the morning of November 14 after being hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake - Photo: AP

New Zealand lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of ​​intense seismic activity. About 90% of the world's earthquakes occur in this area.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake occurred just after midnight on November 13 and early morning on November 14 with a shallow epicenter only 23 km below the ground, causing many people to wake up and fall into the streets.

The earthquake also surpassed the record of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake of 6.3 magnitude. However, that earthquake killed 185 people.

According to Tuoi Tre