Fears of a tsunami rocking New Zealand have arisen after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the country's South Island earlier today. The powerful tremor hit at 2.42pm local time on Tuesday - shortly before 2am in the UK.

The National Weather Service's Tsunami Alert division posted on X saying there is not risk to the west coast of the United States but indicated that the west coast of New Zealand's south island could be at risk of tsunamis.