By Admin 
An earthquake of 5.9 magnitude occurred on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island on Thursday (16 July 2026). Officials have issued a tsunami alert in this area and have appealed to people to immediately move to safe and higher places. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the earthquake was about 42 kilometers north-northwest of Te Anau city.
The earthquake was felt in the Southland region, including Queenstown and Milford Sound. At present there is no news of any casualties or damage to buildings. Assessing the threat, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that there is a possibility of a devastating tsunami.
Amidst the tsunami warning, the National Emergency Management has ordered the immediate evacuation of the coastal areas from Milford Sound to Puisegur Point. NEMA said: ‘If you are near any coast of the South Island and you felt a shock that lasted more than a minute or was so strong that it was difficult to stand, do not wait for the siren to go off. Go to a higher place immediately.
important guidelines
- Stay away from beaches and waterways.
- Do not go back to the sea or to the evacuated areas until the Civil Defense or officials give clear instructions regarding safety.
- Dangerous and rough sea waves may continue for the next few hours, so do not enter the sea or go there for sightseeing or sightseeing.
New Zealand is located on the border of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates and has many active and quiescent volcanoes, due to which there is a possibility of earthquakes. For all these reasons, New Zealand is among the countries in the world where earthquakes occur the most. Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city, was devastated by a powerful earthquake in 2011. 185 people lost their lives in that accident.