Earthquake in New Zealand triggers tsunami

Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand

A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on today triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes and left two people dead, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region.

Strong aftershocks continued to shake the country on today, rattling the nerves of exhausted residents, many of whom had spent a sleepless night huddled outside after fleeing for higher ground to avoid the tsunami waves.It caused damage in Wellington, the capital, more than 120 miles to the north. It also was strongly felt to the south in the city of Christchurch, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2011 that killed 185 people. Residents said the shaking went on for about three minutes and was followed by a number of strong aftershocks.

Police said one person died in the small coastal town of Kaikoura and another in Mt. Lyford, a nearby ski resort. There also were reports that several people had suffered injuries in Kaikoura, police spokeswoman Rachel Purdom said.

The quake completely cut off road access to Kaikoura, said resident Terry Thompson, who added that electricity and most phones were also down in the town, a popular destination for tourists taking part in whale-watching expeditions.

Thompson was out of town but managed to reach his wife by cellphone during the night before her phone died. “She said the glass exploded right out of the double ranch-slider,” he said. “The neighbor’s chimney was gone, there were breakages and things smashed everywhere.”