2.15am 14 November 2016

Broadcast priority: 1 An event of life-threatening or national significance. Broadcast every 15 minutes.

Broadcast Target Areas: National
Period of Broadcast: Immediate

This request for an Emergency Announcement is made by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management National Controller. Before broadcast, this message must be verified by the MCDEM Public Information Manager on 04 494 6951.

Emergency Announcement

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is warning New Zealand coastal communities that a destructive tsunami is possible following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake (magnitude has been upgraded from a 6.6)located near Hanmer Springs which occurred at 0002 hours on 14 November 2016.
A tsunami has been generated.

There is a land threat for coastal communities in the East Cape down to Southland.

For the remainder of New Zealand, there is a marine and beach threat.

The first wave may not be the largest. Waves may continue for several hours.

People in coastal areas should:

1. Stay off beaches
2. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)
3. Do not go sightseeing
4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
5. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates
6. Follow instructions of your local Civil Defence authorities.

2.20am

National Warning: Tsunami #4 – Threat to Marine and Land Areas

No: 04

Issued 0215 hours NZDT 14 Nov 2016

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) has issued a tsunami warning land threat from the East Cape to Southland including Wellington and the Chatham Islands. There is a beach and marine threat for the remainder of New Zealand.

More Detail

Areas under ‘Marine and Beach Threat’ can 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.

Areas under ‘Marine and Land Threat’ can also expect a threat of coastal inundation to land areas near the shore. Current assessments indicate that wave amplitudes of up to 2 m can be expected in some areas.

Tsunami wave activity has been detected. The first wave 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.

People in the above coastal areas should:
1. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)
2. Stay off beaches and shore areas
3. Do not go sightseeing
4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
5. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates
6. Follow instructions of local civil defence authorities
7. If a land threat is forecasted for your area, take appropriate evasive action (see ‘Marine and Land Threat’ below)

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

Only messages issued by MCDEM represent the official warning status for New Zealand. We note the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) has issued a Tsunami Information Statement for this event. PTWC messages do not represent the official warning status for New Zealand.

Local civil defence authorities will interpret this information for their areas and advise public action.

MCDEM and scientific advisors are continuously monitoring the situation.

Note:
• The wave amplitudes given indicate the largest expected wave activity at any coastal point in the particular coastal zone and at any time during the entire period this warning is in effect (tsunami activity will vary in a zone and with time; the first wave activity may also not be the largest).
• The amplitudes given are at shore. Tsunami run-up on steep slopes onshore can be up to twice as high i.e. a 2m wave at shore can run up as high as 4m on land near the shore.
• The given amplitudes do not include the local tidal or sea state at the time of tsunami activity.
• Local authorities will determine the implication of the expected wave heights for their areas and will decide on appropriate response actions (e.g. evacuations). Listen or check for this information from your local authority.

2am

National Warning: Tsunami Threat #3 HAMNER SPRINGS EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI

No: 03

MARINE AND LAND THREAT

Issued 0200 hours NZDT 14 Nov 2016

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) has issued a tsunami warning for all of the eastern coast of the North Island and all of the east coast of the South Island including Chatham Islands.
Confirmation has been received that a tsunami was generated. Waves have been detected on the Geonet Tsunami Gauges.

The first tsunami wave activity has been detected in the areas around Kaikoura and Wellington. The first wave 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.

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

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

Only messages issued by MCDEM represent the official warning status for New Zealand. We note the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) has issued a Tsunami Information Statement for this event. PTWC messages do not represent the official warning status for New Zealand.

Local civil defence authorities will interpret this information for their areas and advise public action via local radio stations. If you are in a low lying area on the East Coast of the North Island, South Island or Chatham Islands move immediately to higher ground.

MCDEM and scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation to determine the severity of the threat to New Zealand.

More Detail: An earthquake has occurred with these parameters:

Origin time: 11:02:56 UTC 13 Nov 2016
NZ time: 00:02:56 NZDT 14 Nov 2016
Co-ordinates: 42.757 South 173.077 East
Depth: 23 km
Location: NNE of Amberly, New Zealand
Magnitude: M7.5

No: 02

Issued 0125 hours 14 November 2016

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) has issued a tsunami warning for Eastern coast of North and South Island including the Chatham Islands. It may arrive in the Eastern Coast of the North Island shortly. Move inland or to higher ground immediately.

A tsunami is possible.

The first wave 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.

MCDEM is still assessing the threat and will provide more information within the next hour.

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

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

Only messages issued by MCDEM represent the official warning status for New Zealand. We note the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) has issued a TsunamiThreat Message for this event.
PTWC messages do not represent the official warning status for New Zealand.

1.15am
REQUEST FOR THE BROADCAST OF AN EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Tsunami Warning

This is an official request for the broadcast of an Emergency Announcement in accordance with the Memoranda of Understanding between the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management and radio and television broadcasters.

0110 NZST14 November 2016

Broadcast priority: 1 An event of life-threatening or national significance. Broadcast every 15 minutes.

Broadcast Target Areas: National
Period of Broadcast: Immediate

This request for an Emergency Announcement is made by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management National Controller. Before broadcast, this message must be verified by the MCDEM Public Information Manager on 04 494 6951.

Emergency Announcement

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is warning New Zealand coastal communities that a destructive tsunami is possible following a magnitude 6.6 earthquake located which occurred on 0002NZST 14 November 2016.

A tsunami has been generated, the first wave has arrived in the North Eastern Coast of the South Island and it may arrive in Eastern Coast of the North and South Islands of New Zealand shorly. The first wave may arrive later and may not be the largest. Waves may continue for several hours.

People in coastal areas should:

1. Stay off beaches
2. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)
3. Do not go sightseeing
4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
5. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates
6. Follow instructions of your local Civil Defence authorities.

This warning has been issued to all local civil defence authorities, emergency services, other agencies and media.

Local civil defence authorities have been asked to activate local response arrangements and alert potentially at-risk communities as appropriate.

This Emergency Announcement was issued by the Civil Defence Emergency Management National Controller.

Stay tuned to this station for more information.

1am

National Warning: Tsunami Threat

No: 01

Issued 0050 hours 14 November 2016

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) has issued a tsunami warning for all southern coastal areas of New Zealand.

A tsunami is possible.

The first wave 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.

MCDEM is still assessing the threat and will provide more information within the next hour.

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

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

Only messages issued by MCDEM represent the official warning status for New Zealand. We note the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) has issued a Tsunami Information Statement for this event. PTWC messages do not represent the official warning status for New Zealand.

12.48am

National Advisory: No Tsunami Threat to New Zealand

No: 01

Issued 0040 14 November 2016

More Detail: An earthquake has occurred with these parameters:

Origin time: 1102 UTC NOV 13 2016
NZ time: 0002 hours 14 November 2016
Co-ordinates: -42.63, 172.99
Depth: 16 km
Location: 20 km south-east of Hamner Springs
Magnitude: 6.6

The above magnitude is provisional and may be increased or decreased as more seismic data becomes available.

© Scoop Media