WELLINGTON, New Zealand (July 15) -- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says a tsunami generated after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake off of New Zealand is small and poses no threat.
The warning center says no destructive waves are headed for New Zealand's western coastline after a tsunami warning was issued earlier.
The waves generated are less than 8 inches in height and the warning was canceled after about an hour.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was 100 miles west of Invercargill, off the west coast of New Zealand's South Island at a depth of 20.5 kilometers.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii sent an e-mail alert warning of a possible tsunami in New Zealand.
Police in the town of Tuatapere on South Island, where the earthquake was centered, say they have reports of minor cracks in buildings and stock falling from supermarket shelves. But they have received no reports of serious damage or injuries so far.
The quake was felt widely across the South Island.
