BREAKING NEWS: 7.8 Magnitude Quake Hit New Zealand; Tsunami Generated Near The South Island’s East Coast

Five years after a 2011 temblor hit Christchurch, New Zealand, another powerful tremor struck the South Pacific city after midnight Sunday, according to the country's Civil Defense agency. New Zealand authorities say that a tsunami hit the South Island's east coast. The country's department of civil defense advised those at the area to move to higher ground for safety.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), New Zealand's latest quake occurred 57 miles northeast of Christchurch with a 7.8 magnitude. The country's Civil Defense recorded the earthquake's strength at 5.6. A series of aftershocks followed quake.

USGS seismologist Kevin Furlong revealed that the quake was not generated on the Hope Fault. According to Furlong, "So far it doesn't look to be the Hope Fault, rather (and perhaps more concerning) it seems to have ruptured across the Hope Fault ... most/many aftershocks extend to Cook Strait implying that the rupture may have extended quite a bit to the north.

Radio New Zealand reported on the evacuation of thousands of people. Social media have been used by people to offer others a safe bed for the night. The quake was also strongly felt in Nelson, Marlborough, Taranaki, Hamilton, and Auckland.

NBC News reported on the minor damage in the capital city of Wellington. No major damage or injuries in Christchurch had been observed. Pictures of upturned furniture were seen on social media following the disaster. Some power and phone lines Waiau, only a few kilometers from the epicenter, were affected by the earthquake.

In 2011, Christchurch experienced a very powerful earthquake that killed 185 people and caused major destruction in the city center. The 2011 disaster flattened historical buildings in the city and caused New Zealand $40 billion in damages.

New Zealand sits on the "Ring of Fire," an area in the Pacific where there is an arc of seismic faults.