A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand.

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake, followed by hundreds of strong aftershocks, rocked New Zealand this morning, November 14th, killing at least two people and forcing thousands to evacuate to higher ground due to tsunami warnings.

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 Wellington, Prime Minister John Key announced that two people had died. The earthquake also caused severe shaking in the capital.

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

In the capital, around 100 people, including children, slept on the floor or on benches outdoors. Many others camped at the New Zealand Parliament's "Beehive" building.

Police said they found a victim in a house in the tourist city of Kaikoura.

Reuters reported that emergency response teams had to use helicopters to fly to the epicenter of the earthquake northeast of Christchurch, South Island, after receiving reports of numerous injuries and collapsed buildings.

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

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

In Christchurch, tsunami warning sirens continued to blare as three evacuation centers received residents seeking refuge. Police set up barricades to prevent many from risking returning to their homes in low-lying coastal areas.

Images shared on social media show cracked and warped roads, while numerous shops in Wellington and the upper South Island area have broken windows and displays scattered on the floor.

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

New Zealand lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismically active region. Approximately 90% of the world's earthquakes occur in this area.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck just after midnight on November 13th, with a shallow epicenter only 23 km below the surface, waking many people and causing them to rush into the streets.

This earthquake also surpassed the record set by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale. However, that earthquake killed 185 people.

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper