NewsWorld newsTsunamiLIVE EVENT ENDEDLast updated 16th July 2026New Zealand Civil Defence warned residents to evacuate ahead of a possible 'damaging tsunami' in coastal areas following a powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquakeMilford Sound in Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand is famous for its fjords and hiking (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)Updated 14:45, 16 Jul 2026An immediate evacuation order was ordered in New Zealand amid the threat of a possible tsunami following a powerful earthquake.A magnitude 6.3 quake was initially recorded 40 km north of the town of Te Anau on New Zealand’s South Island, New Zealand Civil Defence said, but the quake was later downgraded."People near the coast in the following areas must move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible," the government body warned.The tsunami warning was cancelled after the earthquake was downgraded.View PostView PostView PostView Post16th Jul14:31 BSTCoverage endedThis concludes our live coverage of this event.16th Jul12:45 BSTTsunami warning cancelledThe National Emergency Management Agency has said the warning is cancelled.Content cannot be displayed without consent16th Jul12:25 BSTEarthquake downgraded and ‘no need to evacuate’ The National Emergency Management Agency has said they have downgraded their tsunami warning as the strength of the earthquake has been revised from 6.3 down to 5.9.Instead of telling people to evacuate coastal areas, the agency has now said the people in or near the sea in the affected areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.“There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event,” the agency added.‌16th Jul12:02 BSTThreat map shows tsunami riskA threat map published by the National Emergency Management Agency shows which area is most at risk from a tsunami.Threat map(Image: National Emergency Management Agency)16th Jul11:48 BST'The threat is real'The National Emergency Management Agency said: "The first wave may not be the largest. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat is real until this warning is cancelled.""People in all other areas who felt a LONG or STRONG earthquake that makes it hard to stand up, or lasted longer than a minute, should MOVE IMMEDIATELY to the nearest high ground, out of tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. DO NOT STAY AT HOME.""The National Emergency Management Agency and ESNZ Science will continue to assess the threat and will provide a threat map for all areas as soon as possible."16th Jul11:39 BSTWhere did the earthquake hit?Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that epicentre of the quake appears to be on land in the Fiordland National Park, a popular tourist destination for its beautiful fjords and hiking trails.The USGS recorded the quake as 5.9 on the Moment magnitude scale, 42 km North-north-west of the town of Te Anau at a depth of 76.397 km.United States Geological Survey map of the quake(Image: USGS)‌16th Jul11:33 BSTWhere does the tsunami warning cover?A roughly 1340mile stretch of coastline is covered by the warning on the south west coast of New Zealand's South Island.An initial tremor was first reported at 9.14pm local time, on Wednesday evening at a depth of 53km.The epicenter of the quake was 40 kilometres north of Te Anau and the with the west coast of the South Island from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point is likely to face “land inundation”.The west coast of the South Island from Milford Sound to Puysegur Point is at risk(Image: Google Maps)16th Jul11:25 BSTFleeing Kiwis told 'Walk, run or cycle' to avoid traffic Citizens were told to flee to high ground and “walk, run or cycle if at all possible to reduce the chances of getting stuck in traffic congestion.”People were told not to return until an official all-clear message is given by Civil Defence.16th Jul11:19 BSTPeople warned 'move immediately to the nearest high ground'A warning from New Zealand Civil Defence said: "A Tsunami Warning has been issued following the M6.3 earthquake near 40 km north of Te Anau."Land inundation is likely in the following areas. People near the coast in the following areas must move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible:"The West Coast of the South Island from MILFORD SOUND to PUYSEGUR POINT."The earthquake may not have been felt in some of these areas, but evacuation should be immediate as a damaging tsunami is possible."‌