A tsunami warning has been issued for New Zealand and much of the Pacific following a massive earthquake in Chile, with waves set to hit New Zealand at around 7am Sunday.
Homes and hospitals have been knocked down and at least 122 people are dead following the 8.8 magnitude quake. After the quake a tsunami warning was issued and a wave measuring 2.34 metres was measured in Talcahuano, Chile.
Tsunami warnings have been posted around the Pacific, including New Zealand the US state of Hawaii , Japan and Russia.
Civil Defence predicts waves of between one and three metres for the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula. With most of the east coast expected to see waves of less than one metre.
In the North Island North Cape, Whangarei, Auckland, Mt Maunganui, East Cape, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Wanganui and Wellington are affected.
And in the south, the waves are expected to hit Nelson, Marlborough Sounds, Westport, Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Bluff and Stewart Island.
Expected wave arrival times for your region
Note: These times are provisional and based on the best information available. Arrival times may be as much as one hour later and may be adjusted in subsequent messages
Civil Defence acting director Alan Walker says although one metre does not sound like a lot, there is still potential for damage.
“Remember that is wave height and it depends on the tides and it also depends on the run up that may occur. So it is possible that we will get some sort of marine damage.”
Unlike a swell of a metre which forms a wave and then dissipates on a beach, a tsunami swell of a metre can have a wall, or plateau, of water behind it. It is this momentum that can see the surge extend inland.
The first wave to arrive in New Zealand will be in the areas around Chatham Islands at approximately 7.05am.
Walker says there will be a meeting with all of the Civil Defence region group controllers to try and establish when precisely it will hit the Chathams.
Residents in low lying areas in Banks Peninsula have been told to be prepared to evacuate.
Local Civil Defence says people need to be ready to move to safety by 8am and may not be able to return for at least 24 hours.
Civil Defence manager for Canterbury, Murray Sinclair, says they are waiting to see what the impact is on the Chathams before making a the call to evacuate.
“They are also to be impacted by up to three metre waves … as has been forecast on Banks Peninsula. So be prepared, listen for further information as it comes out through the media.”
Around the country waves will be biggest six to 12 hours after the first arrivals and strong currents and unusual tidal effects may continue for several hours.
There may be some small observable sea level changes on parts of the west coast of both islands.
More information on your area.
People need to take:
1) Essential medicines, toilet items and baby needs
2) Important Documents
3) Radio and torch (with batteries)
4) Emergency bottled water
5) Extra clothing and footwear
Estimates of expected wave arrival times are as follows:
Chatham Islands-Kaingaroa 7.22am
Chatham Islands-Waitangi 7.05am
North Cape 8.54am
Whangarei 9.15am
Auckland (North Head) 10.22am
Mt Maunganui 8.34am
East Cape 7.54am
Gisborne 7.59am
New Plymouth 10.56am
Napier 8.23am
Wanganui 9.49
Wellington 8.25
Nelson 10.05am
Marlborough Sounds (Tory Channel) 8.38am
Westport 10.08am
Greymouth 9.50am
Christchurch (New Brighton) 9.05am
Timaru 8.37am
Milford Sound 9.05am
Dunedin 8.29am
Bluff 8.58am
Stewart Island 9.21am
Note: These times are provisional and based on the best information available. Arrival times may be as much as one hour later and may be adjusted in subsequent messages.
