Listen Now: 
March 05, 2021
Tsunami threat downgraded after day of quakes and surges
Waatea Team
Posted On March 5, 2021
People are heading back to their homes after a tsunami threat warning was downgraded.
GNS Science advised shortly after high tide that the largest waves generated by an 8.1 magnitude earthquake on the Kermadecs have now passed, and the threat level is downgraded to a Beach and Marine threat for all areas which were previously under Land and Marine threat.
People are advised to stay off beach and shore areas while the threat warning remains.
Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges are expected to continue for several hours.
The quake in the Kermadec group northeast of New Zealand at 8.27am generated unusual surges which started hitting New Zealand shores around 10am.
In Northland, Aotea-Great Barrier and from Matatā to Tolaga Bay thousands of people moved inland or to higher ground.
Around Te Araroa and other East Cape townships it was a second evacuation, and many people had headed for the hills after a severe 7.1 offshore earthquake in the early hours of the morning.
There were a series of weak aftershocks east of Te Araroa throughout the day.
Emergency Management Minister Kiri Allan says she was impressed with how New Zealanders responded, keeping calm and looking after themselves and their whānau.
She says by and large people did what they had to do.
!["p_facebook"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/facebook.jpg")
& !["p_twitter"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/twitter.jpg")
Copyright © 2021, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
