A tsunami warning issued for New Zealand’s South Island following a strong earthquake near Te Anau has been downgraded to an advisory after authorities revised the tremor’s magnitude from 6.3 to 5.9. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that while coastal inundation is not expected, the advisory remains in effect for the West Coast from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point due to the risk of dangerous currents and unpredictable surges.
Seismic Impact and Regional Reporting
The earthquake struck at 9:14 p.m. on Thursday, centered 40 kilometers north of Te Anau at a depth of 53 kilometers. According to NEMA, nearly 20,000 people reported feeling the tremor, which was felt across Otago, Southland, and Canterbury. Residents described varying levels of intensity; while one Wānaka resident reported the shaking was “very strong,” others in Dunedin noted their furniture moving, with one individual in St Kilda reporting their sofa swinging back and forth. In Riversdale, Southland, a resident estimated the shaking lasted between 20 and 30 seconds.
Infrastructure Precautions and Safety Measures
Emergency Management Southland has advised residents that if they felt the shaking, their decision to move to higher ground was the correct precaution. As a safety measure, the Queenstown Lakes District Council announced the Edith Cavell Bridge will remain closed for engineering inspections until at least 8:30 a.m. on Friday. Motorists traveling over the Crown Range have been warned to exercise caution, as the earthquake may have dislodged rocks or debris onto the road surfaces.
Ongoing Monitoring and Potential Risks
Authorities are continuing to monitor the region following the initial 5.9 magnitude event. Several smaller earthquakes have been recorded in the area since the primary tremor. While the tsunami threat has been downgraded, Emergency Management Southland indicated that strong and unusual currents could persist in coastal areas, particularly around Milford, over the next few days. Residents are encouraged to stay alert for further updates as engineers complete their assessments of local infrastructure.
