A fourth earthquake has hit just hours after several tremours have rocked the Pacific Ocean and New Zeland, with thousands of evacuated residents racing to higher ground.
Terrified locals watched a wall of water roll into the coast of Tokomaru Bay on Friday morning.
A major earthquake of 8.1 magnitude hit the Pacific Ocean at 8.28am local time sparking a tsunami warning north of New Zealand.
The latest tremor, reading 6.5 four hours later, follows a 7.4 magnitude earthquake with “widespread hazardous tsunami waves” by The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Residents in affected areas were ordered to “move immediately to nearest high ground” ahead of a devastating wave.
The previous earthquake was recorded near the Kermadec Islands six hours after the quake recorded 105km east of Te Araroa.
A two-foot tsunami wave also hit Australia’s Norfolk Island, though no damage has been reported.
The National Emergency Management Agency for the country, tweeted: “TSUNAMI WARNING issued following Kermadecs earthquake.
“People near coast from the BAY OF ISLANDS to WHANGAREI, from MATATA to TOLAGA BAY, and GREAT BARRIER ISLAND must MOVE IMMEDIATELY to nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible.
“Areas that need to evacuate are indicated on this map. Evacuate these areas even if you did not feel the earthquake.
“DO NOT WAIT. A damaging tsunami is possible.”
They added: “People in all other areas who felt a LONG or STRONG earthquake should MOVE IMMEDIATELY to the nearest high ground, out of tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible.
“People evacuating should walk, run or cycle if possible to reduce chance of getting stuck in traffic.
“Do not return until all-clear is given by Civil Defence.
Roads in cities such as Whangarei and surrounding areas became gridlocked as residents followed evacuation instructions but have started to clear, NZ Herald reports.
Waves as high as three metres are expected to hit the Kermadecs and one-metre high waves are likely to strike parts of the North Island.
The state of Hawaii is now being warned of a “destructive” tsunami heading its way as as a result.
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Tsunami.gov has said: “Based on all available data, a tsunami may have been generated by this earthquake that could be destructive on coastal areas even far from the epicenter.
“An investigation is underway to determine if there is a tsunami threat to Hawaii.”
Peru is also being braced for the possibility of a tsunami on Friday, gob.pe reports.
According to communications from the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Peruvian Navy, the wave train is forecast to hit the South American country’s coastline between the ports of La Cruz and Ilo.
More than 60,000 people reported feeling the quake in New Zealand, with a few hundred describing it as ‘severe’.
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden took to Instagram following the tremour.
She said: “Hope everyone is ok out there – especially on the east coast who would have felt the full force of that earthquake.”
It is the second disaster the region has faced in recent years, after a volcano erupted on White Island in 2019, killing 21 people and injuring 24 others.