Massive and deadly earthquake in the Kaikoura region, New Zealand

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Update 10:32 UTC : Very interesting explanation of what may have triggered the earthquake. Click on the picture below to be linked to the article.

Update 10:28 UTC : A couple of very interesting tweets

A house at Bluff Station btw Blenheim & Kaikoura. Right on the Kekerengu fault line. Sue Murray says Simon, a farm worker was in the house pic.twitter.com/n1gxBJqX8s

— Alex Perrottet (@alexperro) November 13, 2016

https://twitter.com/Signsoflife27/status/798012639615950849

The whole seabed raised out of the ground #kaikoura #eqnz #earthquakenz pic.twitter.com/CbUVW5YjX2

— Lou (@lou_gordongreen) November 14, 2016

Update 09:01 UTC : The strongest aftershocks

Update 08:54 UTC : Picture from the damage in Picton (known by a lot our readers). Dr. James Daniell, the CEDIM geophysicist was staying in Picton when the earthquake struck. He made this picture on Sunday. Picton is approx. 185 km from the epicenter.

Update 08:33 UTC :

This is the damage in Parnassus just south of #Kaikoura my friends house #eqnz pic.twitter.com/7ZyaQDk2gz

— Lou (@lou_gordongreen) November 13, 2016

Wow, @stuartsmithmp #eqnz pic.twitter.com/hZ9kpQjIX0

— Megan Campbell (@MeganCampbellNZ) November 13, 2016

Update 19:37 UTC : An urban SAR team (Search and Rescue) is heading for the Kaikoura region to assist the local people if needed.

IMPORTANT Update 19:33 UTC : The Civil Defense has canceled all the remaining Tsunami warnings

whoa - kaikoura coast road (shared on FB) pic.twitter.com/UN16Qo0hgw

— Naomi Arnold (@NaomiArnold) November 13, 2016

IMPORTANT Update 19:14 UTC : Two people have been confirmed dead after a severe 7.5 earthquake hit North Canterbury early on Monday morning.
One person was killed when a Kaikoura homestead collapsed, while another died at a property at Mt Lyford.
A tsunami alert was earlier issued for all coastal areas of New Zealand but has since been scaled back. A tsunami warning still stands in certain areas.

Update 19:11 UTC : Prime Minister gives a statement on how the situation is at this moment

The earthquake caused a slip on the Hamner Springs side of the Waiau Ferry Bridge. #eqnz https://t.co/FuI686IhYL pic.twitter.com/lwevYfLL1q

— The Baptist (@Admitonesin) November 13, 2016

Important Update 15:40 UTC : The small North Canterbury township of Waiau is feared to be worst hit

Update 15:07 UTC :

Update 15:00 UTC :

Update 14:53 UTC :

Here is the latest media release from the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management #eqnz pic.twitter.com/CYQVPqJtoW

— MCDEM (@NZcivildefence) November 13, 2016

Update 14:41 UTC : Some injuries have been reported near the epicenter of the earthquake

Update 13:58 UTC :

Update 13:41 UTC : Dr. James Daniell, is currently in Picton, South Island New Zealand and witnesses at first hand the many aftershocks. His comment experiencing the main-shock: "a hell of a shake that lasted 30 seconds"

Update 13:29 UTC : Kaikoura is one of the coastal towns (a very famous and popular one btw) where the tsunami risk was imminent. The town was prepared for a possible tsunami alert and urged the population to move to high ground (green area)

This map shows land >30 m in #Kaikoura region as green. Please Kaikoura people move to green #tsunami #earthquake @WWKaikoura @KaikouraNZ pic.twitter.com/RL66gcO2Qw

— Brendan Duffy (@structuregeo) November 13, 2016

Update 13:26 UTC : Below the new updated epicenter location of today's earthquake based upon Geonet's updated location.

Update 13:19 UTC : Dr. James Daniell just reports that it was "a hell of a shake" who lasted 30 seconds. The longer the shaking lasts, the more chance of serious damage.

Update 13:17 UTC :Geonet's revised measurements say the quake was centered 15km northeast of Culverden at a depth of 15km and struck at 12.02am.

IMPORTANT Update 13:11 UTC :

IMPORTANT Update 13:09 UTC : The seismological agency of New Zealand has UPGRADED the Magnitude from M6.6 to M7.5 ! Most international agencies did report M7.4 from the very beginning.

Update 13:01 UTC : Be aware that some pictures are circulating on the internet seemingly from today's earthquake but in reality from one of the other earthquakes. How to recognize them : it was dark today so every daylight picture is false #JustSaying

Update 13:00 UTC : So far NO pictures of collapsed houses and/or infrastructure

Photos of the damage from this mornings earthquakes that have struck New Zealand #eqnz https://t.co/Axy9mOExRl pic.twitter.com/zVp9V2HzH1

— The Baptist (@Admitonesin) November 13, 2016

Update 12:56 UTC : The sea level gauges in Kaikoura and Wellington

Update 12:51 UTC : If true, this is really alarming as Kaikoura is at sea level and located in the greater epicenter area. As the quake happened inland it is unknown what pattern the tsunami waves will have. As i slept in Kaikoura 7 months ago, i do know the area a bit and truly hope that the first readings are wrong. Kaikoura is also the place where the penguins can be observed. A special penguin center is close to the beach and at risk too.

"Tidal measurements from Geonet now indicate that a tsunami two metres or more has been recorded in Kaikoura, and indications are it will hit other parts of the South Island soon. Civil Defence is warning all residents of the coastal South Island, North Island and the Chatham Islands to move inland or to higher ground as soon as possible."

Update 12:45 UTC : The bridge on Hapuku Rd in Kaikoura Flat is closed due to damage.

Update 12:44 UTC : Tsunami news

The tsunami threat is for the east coast of all New Zealand (including Christchurch, Wellington and the Chatham islands) #eqnz pic.twitter.com/z85tsZ0e27

— MCDEM (@NZcivildefence) November 13, 2016

Update 12:41 UTC : In Christchurch, hotels and occupied buildings inthe CBD have been evacuated. Many people are standing around in the middle of the street, away from buildings, calling people to let them know they're fine. Some people are venturing back inside, because nobody seems to be enforcing the evacuations. ER: Christchurch is at about 90 km from the epicenter which explains that NO serious damage has been reported there as yet.

Update 12:38 UTC : There are (mostly unconfirmed) reports of collapsed houses and even bridges (more will follow soon)

Update 12:36 UTC : Based on the last massive earthquake in the same greater area, we expect a high number of moderate to very powerful aftershocks (which is confirmed by the many aftershocks so far). These aftershocks can go on for weeks with regular very strong shakes as part of it.

Update 12:34 UTC : Tsunami gauges measured serious waves and the Kaikoura to Wellington coast is at risk.

Update 12:28 UTC : The many fault lines in the area of today's earthquake. The region had also other massive earthquakes in the past.

Update 12:17 UTC : Professor Max Wyss, who specializes in theoretical prognoses of injuries and fatalities expects : Injuries 20 to 200 and fatalities 10 to 100 (very uncertain based on too many different earthquake data)

Update 12:15 UTC : Wellington :
In Wellington, hundreds of people are on the streets as building alarms sound and fire trucks and police cars head around the CBD.
Windows in some high-rise office buildings have smashed, while plaster and masonry appears to have fallen down from some buildings.

Update 12:11 UTC : A tweet showing damage in Wellington (if true), at quite a distance from the epicenter. If the picture is a real one from this earthquake (to be confirmed) this doesn't look well for the morning and for the epicenter region.

Cheers for the concern all, everyone's ok. Here's the kitchen... #eqnz pic.twitter.com/moGd0zTaKj

— Richard Bicknell (@dickbicknell) November 13, 2016

Update 12:02 UTC : Updated LIVE "I have Felt It" MAP from New-Zealand Geonet
http://www.geonet.org.nz/quakes/region/newzealand/2016p858000

Important UPDATE 11:54 UTC : Local (to be trusted) GEONET reports the mainshock as a M6.6 earthquake at a depth of 16 km, still very dangerous but way below the originally internationally reported M7.4!

Update 11:45 UTC : Stuff.co.nz writes that according to the local seismological agency, the thermal tourist town "Hanmer Springs" will be nearest to the epicenter. (http://hanmersprings.co.nz/pools)

Update 11:43 UTC : Still NO direct information from the epicenter area

Update 11:43 UTC : USGS shaking maps

Update 11:39 UTC : A lot of moderate and even strong aftershocks

Update 11:34 UTC : A few remarks from the local New Zealand press :

The quake was strongly felt in Christchurch, Wellington, Taranaki, Hamilton and Auckland.
Power and phones were out in Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast.
In Nelson, resident Jo Davis grabbed her children and sheltered in a doorway as the quake seemed to "go on forever".

Update 11:30 UTC : Based on the I HAVE FELT MAP from local GEONET so far, the shaking looks very strong to strong. Almost no felt reports from the direct epicenter area for 2 reasons Communications may be down in the direct epicenter area but also because the area is very sparsely populated.

Update 11:26 UTC : An orange Tsunami alert has been edited by GDACS although most of the agencies are locating the epicenter below inland

Update 11:21 UTC : The shaking was well felt in the North Island too.

Update 11:18 UTC : As it is dark in New Zealand at the moment, information of possible damage will only arrive slowly.

Update 11:16 UTC : As you can see on the map below, the epicenter location is still very unreliable at this point. Depending on the exact location, the level of damage and eventual injuries will differ a lot.

Update 11:14 UTC : The epicenter is located North of Christchurch in a less populated mountainous region, but due to the strength of the eartghquake will be nevertheless very dangerous.

Update 11:13 UTC : ER believes that this earthquake is very dangerous for damage and possible fatalities.

Amberley, New Zealand, 53.8 km (33.5 mi) Population: 1,105
Kaiapoi, New Zealand, 77.6 km (48.2 mi) Population: 10,200
Christchurch, New Zealand, 93.0 km (57.8 mi) Population: 363,926
Blenheim, New Zealand; 155.9 km (96.9 mi) Population: 26,550
Richmond, New Zealand, 160.6 km (99.8 mi) Population: 14,000

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