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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - Thousands of New Zealanders on the east coast of the country's North Island evacuated to higher ground Friday after a third offshore earthquake in less than eight hours triggered tsunami sirens and warnings.
Workers, students and residents in areas like Northland and Bay of Plenty were assisted by civil defense officials as authorities said tsunami waves could reach three meters (10 feet) above tide levels.
There were no reports of damage or casualties from the quakes.
The latest quake had a magnitude of 8.1 and struck the Kermadec Islands, northeast of New Zealand's North Island. This came shortly after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the same region. Earlier, a large 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck about 900 kilometers (540 miles) away on the east of the North Island.
New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the first waves would arrive on New Zealand's north shores about 9:45 a.m. It said areas under threat were from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay including Whakatane and Opotiki, and the Great Barrier Island.
"We want everyone to take this threat seriously. Move to high ground," Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai told state broadcaster TVNZ.
Warnings were also issued for other Pacific islands like Tonga, American Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Hawaii and others.
3-meter waves
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii warned that 3-meter waves could hit Vanuatu and the French territory of New Caledonia, with smaller ones likely to reach Japan, Russia and Mexico.
"Tsunami waves have been observed," the PTWC said of the small waves measured near Tonga's capital.
Australia issued a marine tsunami threat for Norfolk Island, a tiny Australian territory with about 1,750 residents, but said there was no threat to the mainland.
Norfolk Island residents in areas threatened by inundation were advised to go to higher ground or inland, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Residents were also told to get out of the water and move away from the water's edge at beaches, marinas, coastal estuaries and rock platforms.
Chile said it could experience a minor tsunami.
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck off the east of New Zealand's North Island was felt by more than 60,000 people across the country, with many describing the shaking as severe. Aftershocks were still being recorded in the area.
"People near the coast in the following areas must move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. DO NOT STAY AT HOME," NEMA said on Twitter.
"The earthquake may not have been felt in some of these areas, but evacuation should be immediate as a damaging tsunami is possible," it added.