Wellington, Safar 13, 1438, Nov 13, 2016, SPA -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck central New Zealand just after midnight, the U.S. Geological Survey said, generating a tsunami that hit the northeast coast of the South Island. New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management warned of the risk of destructive waves along the country's entire east coast and urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate and seek higher ground, Reuters reported. The quake was centered 91 km (57 miles) north-northeast of Christchurch, the biggest city on New Zealand's South Island. A 6.3 quake there in February 2011 killed 185 people and caused widespread damage. The tremor, which was measured by New Zealand's Geonet at magnitude 6.6, was felt throughout most of New Zealand. Civil Defense said it was too early to assess the damage or whether there had been any injuries or deaths. --SPA 17:12 LOCAL TIME 14:12 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w268677