6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off New Zealand’s South Island, No Immediate Tsunami Threat or Damage:

As reported by the United States Geological Survey, New Zealand’s South Island suffered a 6.8 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday at 2:43 pm (0143 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers southwest off the island.

Initially recorded as a 7.0 magnitude tremor, the area was around 160 kilometers from the land's closest settlement. As for the Honolulu based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there were no immediate signs of structural damage as well as no issuance of a tsunami warning.

The head of New Zealand's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated: “If a tsunami has been generated in this location it is not likely to arrive in New Zealand for at least one hour.”

In summary, New Zealand had issued their emergency management agency to state that they still need to assess if they're able to contain the tsunami within or not.

Upon experiencing the tremor, Ben Sievwright stated he felt “a little sway”, twin that to his quote of “Just a little wee shake, nothing too eventful.” Afterwards, he was reported to mention New Zealand lying on the tectonic plate, explains that the islands experience a number of quakes annually.

According to official reports, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 devastated parts of Christchurch in 2011, claiming 185 lives.