ASSOCIATED PRESS
ニュージーランドの南島で11月14日午前0時2分（日本時間13日午後8時2分）ごろに発生したマグニチュード7.8の地震に関連して、少なくとも2人が死亡した。ハフィントンポスト・オーストラリア版などが伝えた。
地震から12時間が経過しているが、 現地では今もなお大小合わせて250回以上の余震が続いている。
現地紙ニュージーランド・ヘラルドによると、犠牲者の一人は南島のカンタベリー郡の農家で死亡。もう一人の犠牲者はクライストチャーチ近郊の山岳地帯で、心臓発作で亡くなったという。
ニュージーランドのジョン・キー首相は地震を受けて、アルゼンチンへの公式訪問を中止。キー首相は犠牲者に哀悼の意を表するとともに、「今後も被害が拡大する恐れがある」としている。
ニュージーランド・ヘラルドによると、カンタベリー郡にある街ワイアウでは橋が崩壊するなどの被害が出ているという。南島のいくつかの街では道路が寸断されるなど孤立している箇所もあり、当局はヘリコプターや救助隊を出動させ、救援活動に乗り出している。
地震発生後、ニュージーランドでは南島の沿岸を中心に津波警報が発令された。BBCによると、震源付近のカイクラでは2.5メートルの津波が観測されたという。ロイターによると、首都ウェリントンやクライストチャーチでも津波が観測された。数千人が避難したが、津波への警戒態勢はその後引き下げられた。
震源からおよそ95キロ離れたクライストチャーチでは、建物への損壊や地割れなどの被害が出ているという。また、震源からおよそ200キロ離れた首都ウェリントンでも同様の被害が確認されているという。
スカイニュース・オーストラリアは、震源に近いニュージーランド第二の都市クライストチャーチでは、まだ被害の全貌が不明であると伝えている。
▼現地の様子は（画像集）▼
ニュージーランドでM7.8（2016年11月14日）
New Zealand Earthquake(01 of20)
landslides are seen on a section of state highway 1 near Kaikoura, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, after a powerful earthquake. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (David Alexander/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(02 of20)
A landslide covers a section of state highway 1 near Kaikoura, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, after a powerful earthquake. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (David Alexander/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(03 of20)
A landslide covers a section of state highway 1 near Kaikoura, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, after a powerful earthquake. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (David Alexander/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(04 of20)
A landslide covers a section of state highway 1 near Kaikoura, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, after a powerful earthquake. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (David Alexander/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(05 of20)
A lake caused by an earthquake slip forms on the Conway River near Kaikoura, New Zealand after a powerful earthquake Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (David Alexander/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(06 of20)
Cracks in farmland around Conway near Kaikoura, New Zealand, are seen after a powerful earthquake, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (David Alexander/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(07 of20)
The aerial photo shows cracks on a state highway near Kaikoura, New Zealand after a powerful earthquake Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (David Alexander/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(08 of20)
The walls of a historic church are damaged in Waiau after a earthquake in Waiau, New Zealand Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes and left two people dead, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (Mike Scott/New Zealand Herald via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(09 of20)
Mary Kimber stands in her kitchen following an earthquake in Waiau, New Zealand Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake that rocked New Zealand on Monday triggered landslides and a small tsunami, cracked apart roads and homes, but largely spared the country the devastation it saw five years ago when a deadly earthquake struck the same region. (Mike Scott/New Zealand Herald via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(10 of20)
Glass and masonry litter the footpath in Wellington Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, after a major earthquake struck New Zealand\'s south Island early Monday. The powerful earthquake struck in a mostly rural area close to the city of Christchurch but appeared to be more strongly felt in the capital, Wellington, more than 200 Km (120 miles) away. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(11 of20)
Light fittings lie broken on the floor of an electrical shop, in Thorndon Quay, in Wellington, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, after a major earthquake struck New Zealand\'s south Island early Monday. The powerful earthquake struck in a mostly rural area close to the city of Christchurch but appeared to be more strongly felt in the capital, Wellington, more than 200 Km (120 miles) away. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(12 of20)
The truck loading ramp at the Interisland Ferry wharf lays dropped and broken, in Wellington Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, after a major earthquake struck New Zealand\'s south Island early Monday. The powerful earthquake struck in a mostly rural area close to the city of Christchurch but appeared to be more strongly felt in the capital, Wellington, more than 200 Km (120 miles) away. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(13 of20)
Glass and masonry litter the footpath in Wellington Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, after a major earthquake struck New Zealand\'s south Island early Monday. The powerful earthquake struck in a mostly rural area close to the city of Christchurch but appeared to be more strongly felt in the capital, Wellington, more than 200 Km (120 miles) away. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(14 of20)
A broken window is seen in Tory Street after people were evacuated from the building in Wellington after a 6.6 earthquake based around Cheviot in the South island shock the capital, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch early Monday, with strong jolts causing some damage to buildings over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away in the capital, Wellington. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(15 of20)
A christmas tree lies on its side in a shop in Wellington after a 6.6 earthquake based around Cheviot in the South island shock the capital, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch early Monday, with strong jolts causing some damage to buildings over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away in the capital, Wellington. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(16 of20)
People evacuated from buildings along Dixon Street check their mobile phones while sitting on a bench in Wellington after a 6.6 earthquake based around Cheviot in the South island shock the capital, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch early Monday, with strong jolts causing some damage to buildings over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away in the capital, Wellington. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(17 of20)
People evacuated from the Quest On the Terrace Hotel gather outside the hotel in Wellington after a 6.6 earthquake based around Cheviot in the South island shock the capital, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch early Monday, with strong jolts causing some damage to buildings over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away in the capital, Wellington. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(18 of20)
People evacuated from buildings along Dixon Street stand and sit on the street and the sidewalk in Wellington after a 6.6 earthquake based around Cheviot in the South island shock the capital, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch early Monday, with strong jolts causing some damage to buildings over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away in the capital, Wellington. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(19 of20)
People evacuated from the Plimmer Towers Hotel in Boulcott Street gather outside the hotel in Wellington after a 6.6 earthquake based around Cheviot in the South island shock the capital, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch early Monday, with strong jolts causing some damage to buildings over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away in the capital, Wellington. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
New Zealand Earthquake(20 of20)
Products lie on the floor of a health food shop in Willis Street in Wellington after a 6.6 earthquake based around Cheviot in the South island shock the capital, New Zealand, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016. A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand near the city of Christchurch early Monday, with strong jolts causing some damage to buildings over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away in the capital, Wellington. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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