Tsunami alert issued after strong earthquake in New Zealand

South Island of New Zealand was hit by a severe earthquake that was felt in many parts of the country. The US Geological Survey said the quake was 7.5 of magnitude. The New Zealand Civil Defense issued a tsunami warning.

The quake struck around 50 kilometers northeast of the city of Christchurch just after midnight local time on Monday, the US Geological Survey reported, and triggered waves of 2.49 meters above usual tide levels, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said, according to CNN.

New Zealand media reported that one person is believed to be dead at a property north of Christchurch. Another person is still missing as firefighters continue to search through the rubble of a Kaikoura homestead after one person was found alive.

Photo: the US Geological Survey.