7.8 quake hits New Zealand, killing 2

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A powerful earthquake struck New Zealand’s South Island early Monday, killing at least two people, causing damage to buildings and infrastructure, and prompting emergency services to warn people along the coast to move to higher ground to avoid tsunami waves.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck just after midnight in a mostly rural area that’s dotted with small towns.

In Wellington, it collapsed a ferry loading ramp, broke windows and caused items to fall from shelves.