Tsunami alert

The Whakatane District Council advises that they have received notice of a tsunami threat from the Ministry of Civil Defence that following an earthquake near Vanuatu that there is a threat of a tsunami hitting the coastal area.

At this stage no information has been received of whether a wave has been produced and the Council is waiting for further information. If a wave has been produced its likely arrival time is 2:15pm

Meanwhile the Council advises people to move away from the beaches or in boats near the coast.