Local & Community
‘Do not stay at home’: Tsunami warning for parts of New Zealand after 8.1-magnitude earthquake

New Zealand’s emergency agency has told residents in some areas to head for higher ground after an 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck the nearby Kermadec Islands region early Friday, sparking fears of a tsunami.
Tsunami Info Stmt: M8.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 1129PST Mar4: Event is being reviewed to determine threat to CA, OR, WA, BC, & AK
— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) March 4, 2021
The powerful quake was the third to strike the area on Friday morning, according to the New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency.
People near the coast must “move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible. Do not stay at home,” the agency states on its website.
The East Coast of the North Island from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei, from Matata to Tolaga Bay including Whakatane and Opotiki and Great Barrier Island are all included in the tsunami warning.
“The earthquake may not have been felt in some of these areas, but evacuation should be immediate as a damaging tsunami is possible,” the agency statement reads.
“People in all other areas who felt a long or strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand up, or lasted longer than a minute, should move immediately to the nearest high ground, out of all tsunami evacuation zones, or as far inland as possible.”
The statement adds that the evacuation notice overrides Covid-19 advisories.
A Tsunami Warning is in place for American Samoa and a watch is in place for Hawaii, but nothing so far for California, despite social media reactions.
Currently, a watch is posted for Hawai'i and an Advisory is posted for American Samoa. Refer to https://t.co/npoUHxEZLS for the latest information.
— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) March 4, 2021
BREAKING: Another major earthquake near New Zealand has prompted a tsunami watch for Hawaii. pic.twitter.com/i5BxbamjR5
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) March 4, 2021
California seismologist, Dr. Lucy Jones, says we are too far away too to be affected, U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center confirms.
A tsunami warning has been issued because of the M8.1 for New Zealand. For Hawaii, we have a watch and nothing so far for California. We really are too far away. In the US, the alerts will always come from NOAA. https://t.co/RkZBYEQbhi
— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) March 4, 2021
Tsunami Info Stmt 4: M8.1 Kermadec Islands Region 1129PST Mar 4: Tsunami NOT expected; CA,OR,WA,BC,and AK
— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) March 4, 2021
By: NBC Palm Springs
March 4, 2021

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