New Zealanders are being warned to stay away from coastal areas on many parts of the east of the country as a tsunami alert was activated on Thursday in the wake of the earthquake in Chile.
The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) issued a tsunami warning for East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula, Xinhua reported.
People in coastal areas are being warned to stay out of the sea, rivers and estuaries, and also being asked to refrain from boating activities and sightseeing.
The tsunami warning would remain in effect until a cancellation message was issued by MCDEM.
