Civil Defence Media Statement

Date/time: 17 September 2015 Release No: 01

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) has issued a tsunami warning (marine and beach threat) for East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel, and Banks Peninsula.

People in the above coastal areas should:

1. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)
Stay off beaches and shore areas
Do not go sightseeing
Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates
Follow instructions of local civil defence authorities

The tsunami warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message is issued by MCDEM.

The first tsunami activity may reach New Zealand in the areas around East Cape at approximately 00:15 on 18 September 2015.

This may be later and the first activity may not be the most significant. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this warning is cancelled.

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Group will be posting online updates onhttps://www.facebook.com/BOPCivilDefence andwww.bopcivildefence.govt.nz

More Detail

Areas under ‘Marine and Beach Threat’: Expect unusually strong currents and unpredictable water flows near the shore. This means a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities. The severity of currents and changing water flows will vary within a particular coastal area and over the period this warning is in effect. Current assessments indicate that coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected but this assessment may change.

ENDS

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