SYDNEY, Australia — A powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 magnitude hit the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island early Monday, causing tsunami waves and killing at least two people, officials said. Hours later, another strong quake measuring 6.4 magnitude struck the same region, northeast of Christchurch, around the small town of Hanmer Springs, according to Geoscience Australia. The New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management warned people living near the coast to move inland to higher ground as tsunami waves raised seawater levels in some places by about six feet. Officials in Wellington, the capital, urged people to stay out of the city’s central business district until the risk of damage to buildings could be assessed…
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