New Zealand quake

This item appears on page 18 of the January 2017 issue.

An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred off the coast of New Zealand’s South Island, near the city of Christchurch, on Nov. 13, killing two people. Tsunami waves measuring more than eight feet struck the east coast of the island shortly afterward. 

Dozens of aftershocks, some with magnitudes of more than 6, occurred after the quake. Damage and landslides closed several major roads on the island, isolating some towns.