CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Rescuers in New Zealand were scrambling Monday to reach the epicentre of a powerful 7.8 earthquake that killed at least two people and sparked a tsunami alert that sent thousands fleeing for higher ground. ADVERTISEMENTREAD: 2 die as powerful quake hits New Zealand, causing tsunamiPrime Minister John Key confirmed two people had died and said “we cannot rule out” that number will rise. The first waves were measured around two meters and four hours later authorities downgraded the warning, but said risks remained. “It was massive and really long,” Tamsin Edensor, a mother of two in Christchurch, told AFP, describing the powerful quake as the biggest since the 2011 tremor which was one of New Zealand’s deadliest disasters. ‘Significant shake’Marie Black, a local councilor who lives about 50 kilometers north of Christchurch, told the New Zealand Herald there were reports of damage to buildings in the North Canterbury region.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 13, 2016 23:05 UTC