Strong and shallow M6.7 earthquake hits near the coast of South Island, New Zealand; tsunami advisory issued
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit near the coast of South Island, New Zealand at 01:43 UTC (14:43 local time) on March 25, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 21 km (13 miles). New Zealand’s GeoNet is reporting M6.8 at a depth of 12 km (7.5 miles), and EMSC M7.0 at a depth of 9 km (5.6 miles).
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 165 km (102 miles) WSW of Riverton (population 1 660) and 189 km (117 miles) W of Invercargill (population 57 000), Southland, New Zealand.
83 000 people are estimated to have felt light shaking, according to the USGS PAGER.
The New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued a national advisory, warning residents to expect strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore.
The risk is expected to ease around 20:00 LT (07:00 UTC).
“We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake,” NEMA said in the advisory.
Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.
People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas, and away from harbors, marinas, rivers, and estuaries.
Areas under threat are the west Coast of the South Island from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point.
People in areas under threat are advised to stay off beaches and shore areas. Individuals on boats, liveaboards, or marinas should leave their vessels and move to land and should not return unless instructed by officials.
“There is no need to evacuate other areas unless explicitly advised by local civil defense authorities,” NEMA said.
Coastal inundation is not expected from this event. However, people are strongly advised to move out of the water, leave beaches and shore areas, and stay away from harbors, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
Do not go to the coast to observe wave activity, as dangerous and unpredictable surges may occur. Continue to monitor updates from local civil defense authorities and follow all instructions.
Strong and unusual currents, along with unpredictable surges, are expected to persist for several hours. The threat must be taken seriously until the advisory is officially canceled, NEMA said.
The quake was followed by M5.0 at 02:56 UTC (GeoNet) / M5.4 (USGS).
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.7 earthquake New Zealand – USGS – March 25, 2025
2 M6.8 earthquake New Zealand – GeoNet – March 25, 2025
3 M7.0 earthquake New Zealand – EMSC – March 25, 2025
4 National Advisory: Tsunami activity – expect strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore – NEMA – March 25, 2025
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