新西蘭地震後發生強烈餘震

A powerful aftershock shook New Zealand's South Island Monday, just hours after being hit by a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake.

John Kirby, a spokesman for U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the top American diplomat offered New Zealand "whatever U.S. assistance might be required."

New Zealand officials have confirmed two people died after the powerful earthquake hit 90 kilometers from Christchurch, the biggest city on New Zealand's South Island. The quake caused damage to buildings more than 200 kilometers away in the capital, Wellington.

Thousands of residents in the coastal area of New Zealand fled their homes for higher ground after tsunami warning sirens were activated in South Island coastal towns.

Some waves were up to two meters and officials described the tsunami as an "event of life-threatening or national significance."

A 6.3 quake in Christchurch in 2011 killed 185 people and caused widespread damage.新西蘭南島發生7.8級地震後，星期一又發生強烈餘震。

美國國務院發言人科比說，國務卿克里向新西蘭承諾盡一切力量提供幫助。

新西蘭官員證實，這次地震發生在南島最大城市基督城以外90公里處，造成兩人喪生。就連200公里外的首都惠靈頓都有房屋建築被震壞。

地震後南島城鎮發出海嘯警告，數以千計的居民逃到地勢較高的地方避難。

目前已出現高達兩米的海浪，有關官員說，海嘯是威脅民衆生命安全的國家大事。

2011年基督城曾發生6.3級地震，造成185人死亡。