KATHMANDU, MARCH 4

The National Emergency Management Agency of New Zealand has issued a Tsunami warning for New Zealand coastal areas following the magnitude of 7.3 earthquake, on Thursday.

According to the national emergency agency, the first waves of the Tsunami may reach the East Cape areas at around 3:34 am local time and will continue for several hours.

Anyone near the coast who felt the long and strong quake was asked to move immediately to the nearest high ground or as far inland as one can.

According to the agency, this emergency evacuation overrides the current Covid-19 alert in New Zealand and urges all to evacuate if told by local civil defence authorities, instead of staying at home

The earthquake that occurred at a depth of 10 km was later downscaled to 6.9 by the US Geological Survey.