New Zealand Hit By 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake

Kaikoura, New Zealand before the earthquake. Photo: Ulrich Lange

A state of emergency has been declared for the Canterbury region of New Zealand after it was rocked by a 7.8-magnitute earthquake and a number of powerful aftershocks on Monday.  

Up to 100,000 landslides and a small tsunami were triggered by the quake, which was significantly larger than the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Central Italian regions of Lazio, Marche and Umbria last month.  

The earthquake and its aftershocks were reportedly felt throughout the whole country, as tremors hit as far north as Auckland and knocked out power in the capital city of Wellington.  

More than 20,000 have been evacuated from communities along the country’s coast but the rescue effort is currently being concentrated on communities where there is no way out. In the coastal town of Kaikoura, at least two were killed and over 1,000 tourists—and hundreds of residents—remain stranded. New Zealand has sent military helicopters and navy ships to aid in the rescue, and the U.S. Navy has sent two helicopters and the U.S.S. Sampson naval destroyer.  

The earthquake struck not far from Christchurch, the largest city on the country’s south island, where 185 died in February 2011 after a 6.3-magnitute earthquake hit the area.  

Though the country’s main airports—Christchurch and Wellington Airports—are operating as normal, airlines are giving stranded or affected passengers waivers for ticket changes.  

Air New Zealand is giving travelers with tickets to or from any New Zealand destination booked prior to Sunday November 13 the opportunity to defer their ticket or change destinations before Monday without penalty.  

Qantas is giving travelers with tickets for travel to Wellington or Christchurch the chance to rebook or reroute travel without fee. It is also giving travelers credit for tickets canceled without fee.  

Both airports have warned passengers there could be delays.