BREAKING: Powerful Earthquake Triggering Tsunami Hits New Zealand

A powerful earthquake of 7.8-magnitude struck east coast of New Zealand early Sunday triggering multiple aftershocks and three tsunami waves after seawater levels reached about six feet high.

Civil defense and emergency management issued warning to coastal people to move to higher ground or inland immediately.

The agency tweeted New Zealand’s entire east coast was at threat.

The quake was near the city of Christchurch and the jolts were felt more than 120 miles away in the capital Wellington.

At least two people have been killed in the quake and Prime Minister John Key said the death toll could rise. Full extent of damage is still to be assessed.

People were confused over the tsunami threat as initially the ministry tweeted there was no tsunami threat and little later wrote situation has changed and tsunami could be possible.

However, the quake was not as violent as that occurred in 2011 of 6.3-magnitude that killed 185 people and destroyed much of the downtown area. It was one of the worst disasters in the country.