No tsunami risk to NZ from Kuril Islands quake

Media Release

16 January 2009

0800 Hours

No tsunami risk to New Zealand from Kuril Islands earthquake

There is no tsunami risk to New Zealand from an earthquake that occurred east of Kuril Islands today at 0650 hours.

The Director of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, John Hamilton, said that the Ministry has received information about the earthquake from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) in Hawaii and GNS Science in New Zealand.

An assessment of the information by New Zealand tsunami experts confirms there is no tsunami risk to New Zealand.

Earthquake details:
Location: EAST OF KURIL ISLANDS
Time and date: 1750Z 15 Jan 2009
NZ Origin time: 0650 NZDT 16 Jan 2009
Co-ordinates: 46.9 NORTH 155.2 EAST
Depth: 27 KM
Magnitude*: 7.5
* The above magnitude is provisional and may be adjusted as more seismic data becomes available.

ENDS

Useful websites:

http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/

www.geonet.org.nz/tsunami/

http://www.getthru.govt.nz/web/GetThru.nsf/web/BOWN-7GZVAT?OpenDocument

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