Palmer, AK – A powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the southwest coast of South Island, New Zealand, early Tuesday, prompting a review by U.S. tsunami authorities.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at 1:43 a.m. UTC on March 25, approximately 164 kilometers west-southwest of Riverton, New Zealand. The tremor registered at a depth of 21 kilometers and was widely recorded across the region.
The National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, issued a tsunami information statement shortly after the event, clarifying there is no tsunami danger for the U.S. West Coast, British Columbia, or Alaska. Based on historic tsunami records and current data, the earthquake is not expected to generate a tsunami.
Initial estimates indicate minimal ground failure risk, with little to no population or infrastructure affected in the immediate area. The USGS labeled estimated economic losses and fatalities under the “green” category, indicating low impact.
Residents along the Pacific coast are advised to monitor official updates through tsunami.gov.
