Media Advisory

Updated Emergency Announcement

For immediate release: 1.10pm Thursday 8 October 2009

Latest advisory from Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management:

Potential tsunami threat has been revised to:

People on the west coast from North Cape to Hokitika and on the east coast from North Cape to Auckland should not be on beaches and not be in boats near the coast.

Response services in those areas are on standby.

Background information:

MCDEM issued a Potential Threat Advisory to New Zealand following the Magnitude 8.0 earthquake that occurred in Vanuatu today at 1117NZDT. The magnitude has since been revised to 7.8 and an aftershock of 7.3 has been reported.

There is no confirmation that a tsunami has been generated. Our advice from scientific advisors is that if a tsunami has been generated it is unlikely to be destructive for New Zealand. However, the Potential Threat Advisory remains in effect until cancellation.

ENDS

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