New Zealand: 7.1 magnitude earthquake jolts Kermadec Islands amid warning of hazardous tsunami

On Thursday, a strong earthquake with a Richter Scale value of 7.1 struck the Kermadec Islands in New Zealand. The US Geological Survey estimates that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. The organization added that dangerous tsunami waves may be present along coastlines 300 kilometers from the epicentre.

Notable quake, preliminary info: M 7.1 - Kermadec Islands region https://t.co/wWnuW9x2cO

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) March 16, 2023

Due to its location near the meeting point of the Pacific Plate and the Australian Plate, two of the world's largest tectonic plates, New Zealand is vulnerable to earthquakes. The intensity of earthquake activity varies across the nation, though. In New Zealand's seismic areas, Wellington is one of the most active, while Auckland is one of the least active.