Tsunami May Reach New Zealand Cities After 7.8 Quake

Update 1

By Heather Langan

July 15 (Bloomberg) -- A tsunami prompted by an offshore earthquake of magnitude 7.8 may threaten the New Zealand cities of Auckland and Wellington, the U.S. Geological Survey said in an e-mailed alert.

A tsunami was possible first along the eastern coast of South Island, threatening Dunedin at 11:57 p.m. local time today, before reaching the North Island, where Auckland may be affected at 12:17 a.m. and Wellington at 1:29 a.m., the USGS said. The quake hit at 8:22 p.m.