Keep off beaches advises NSCC

The North Shore City Council is passing on advice from the Ministry of Civil Defence advising North Shore residents to keep off the beaches for the next hour.

Although the Ministry of Civil Defence is not predicting a major event in New Zealand, sensible precautions should be taken in the light of this morning’s tsunami alert.

According to information received by the Ministry, a tsunami of 1.5m was generated in Samoa as a result of a 8.3 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Samoa.

Waves can be expected to be smaller in New Zealand, estimated at 1m at the East Coast and Bay of Plenty.

Wave heights outside of these regions will be advised as soon as possible, but it is unlikely that territorial authorities will need to expect a wave of any height greater than 1m.

The Ministry advises that areas of concern in New Zealand are Northland, the Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty and the East Coast north of Gisborne. The threat is in particular to people in small boats and on the beaches.