Tsunami sirens to be tested

Christchurch's tsunami warning sirens will sound for up to three minutes from 11am on Sunday.

The sirens, located from Brooklands to Taylor’s Mistake, are tested by the Christchurch City Council twice a year, on the Sunday that Daylight Saving begins and ends.

“This is the ideal time to make sure you and your family have an evacuation plan, and that you have all your essential supplies ready,'' said Council Head of Civil Defence Emergency Management and Rural Fire Alicia Palmer.

The tsunami warning sirens will only be heard within a few blocks of the beach, as these areas are most at risk from a possible tsunami.

If the sirens continue to sound for more than 10 minutes, it means there could be a tsunami and residents may need to evacuate the area.

In the event of a tsunami, Christchurch Civil Defence Emergency Management would use a range of options to alert residents including news outlets, social media and local community groups. For a distant source tsunami the sirens would also be used.

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