New Zealand Shaken By A 7.5 Magnitude Quake Overnight; Two Deaths Have Been Reported (So Far)

A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the South Island of New Zealand last night, killing two people and leaving parts of the country without power.

It is reported the quake hit just after midnight (local time). The strong jolts caused damage to buildings in the capital of Wellington, some 200 kilometres away.

The quake was so strong it triggered a tsunami warning along the entire east coast, sending thousands fleeing to higher ground. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the warning has since been downgraded.

Emergency response teams rushed to the earthquake's epicentre via helicopter, after receiving reports of injuries and collapsed buildings.

And the terrifying sound... #eqnz pic.twitter.com/QZLiGpxuTK

— Code Club Aotearoa (@CodeClubNZ) November 13, 2016

Speaking at a news conference, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key made the unfortunate announcement that two people have been found dead. One of the victims was found in a house in the coastal tourist town of Kaikoura, as reported by the ABC.

Commenting on the death toll, Mr Key said, "We don't have any indications at the moment to believe it will rise, but we can't rule that out."

Cheers for the concern all, everyone's ok. Here's the kitchen... #eqnz pic.twitter.com/moGd0zTaKj

— Richard Bicknell (@dickbicknell) November 13, 2016

The quake has been described as one of the most significant shocks in Wellington. Mr Key has warned there will be "major costs around roads and infrastructure".

Roads getting worse the further north we go. Cracks in SH1 north of Cheviot #eqnz #NewZealand #earthquake @ThomasMeadia @ofirzarfatinews pic.twitter.com/pMBaQ6u4we

— BreakingNews (@BreakingNLive) November 13, 2016

Gerry Brownlee, Acting Civil Defence Minister, said it's too early to assess the full extent of damage. "The Wellington City Council have advised people they should stay away from CBD buildings for a time this morning to ensure those buildings are inspected and declared safe," he said.

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in New Zealand, as the country sits on the "Ring of Fire", an arc of seismic faults and tectonic activity around the Pacific Ocean. However, this particular event has been described as "scarier than normal" by local residents.

Australian journalist Gemma Snowdon told the ABC, "I ran outside with my housemates and we quickly realised what was going on and the ground just shook and shook and shook and it seemed never-ending."

"[Earthquakes] are a common occurrence but this one was particularly long and protracted."

Photo: Twitter (@BreakingNLive)