An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 occurred near the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand, causing concern about a potential tsunami. While the U.S. tsunami warning system did not cover the Kermadec Islands or Tonga, New Zealand's Civil Defense agency issued tsunami warnings and advised people near beaches to move to high ground. A tsunami between 60cm to 1 meter arrived as predicted, though it did little damage due to the warning. The document stresses the importance of tsunami warning systems to prevent loss of life from these dangerous waves.