AAP
July 15, 2009 09:37pm
A TSUNAMI warning has been issued for Australia after an earthquake struck off New Zealand earlier this evening.
The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology issued a tsunami marine alert for low-lying coastal areas along the coast of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania following the 7.22pm quake off the coast of New Zealand.
For Tasmania the Bureau said: "Threatened areas extend from Northern Tip of Flinders Island to Low Rocky
Point including Bicheno, Derwent Estuary, Eddystone Point, Flinders Island, Hobart, Low Rocky Point, Maatsuyker Island, Maria Island, Orford, Scamander, St Helens, Storm Bay and Channel, Swansea, Tasman Island and Wineglass Bay."
"Possibility of dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and some localised overflow
onto the immediate foreshore for several hours from 09:30 pm (AEST) tonight.
The bureau stressed no tsunami waves had been recorded yet, but urged people in the impacted areas to move to higher ground.
"In areas with a threat to the marine environment only, emergency authorities advise people to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water's edge of harbours, coastal estuaries, rock platforms and beaches.
"Tsunami waves are more powerful than the same size beach waves, with the first wave not necessarily being the largest."
A bureau spokeswoman says a tsunami wave could develop and hit Australia's coast, but it is quite rare.
"We're continuing to monitor and update the situation," she said.
The tsunami warning is valid until midnight and warns residents between Gabo Island and Seal Rocks along the coast of New South Wales of strong wind gusts and waves that may peak twice as high as normal.
Victorians are facing a marine warning between Lakes Entrance and Gabo Island.
There's also a more serious land warning issued for Lord Howe Island, off the east coast of Australia.
There is a threat of flooding and dangerous waves for several hours, the bureau reports.
The US Geological Survey says the powerful 7.8-magnitude undersea quake struck west of Invercargill on New Zealand's South Island.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says it's not immediately known if a tsunami has been generated but one could strike coastlines in the region within minutes to hours.
It's believed the epicentre was 161km off the coast of New Zealand's South Island at a depth of 33km.
Police in the town of Tuatapere on South Island, where the earthquake was centred, say they have reports of minor cracks in buildings and stock falling from supermarket shelves.
But they have received no reports of serious damage or injuries so far.
The quake was felt widely across the South Island.
More to come. ...
-- with Gareth Trickey, AAP and agencies |
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