Coastal Communities Asked to Self-Evacuate

Hastings Civil Defence is advising coastal residents to self-evacuate and for people to stay away from beaches, as a tsunami of 20cm hits Hawke Bay.

The initial wave hit Hawke Bay at 9.17am but if the pattern at Chatham Island is repeated here there will be more waves and they will increase in size.

Police and the fire service have been door-knocking in the coastal communities of Te Awanga, Haumoana, Clifton and Whirinaki.

Haumoana School is open as a welfare centre and more than 200 people have already self-evacuated to the school.

Waimarama and Ocean Beach residents have already been advised to self-evacuate.

Police have reported parents have been taking small children to Haumoana and Waimarama to see the tsunami and have had to ask them to leave - authorities are strongly urging people to stay away from the waterfront.

The tsunami was sparked by an 8.8 richter scale earthquake which struck 90km from the coast of the Chilean city of Concepcion at a depth of 35km.

Hastings District Council activated its Emergency Operation Centre just after midnight.

Boaties are advised to take boats already in the water out to a depth of 30m or more and emergency services have closed boat ramps along the coastline as a precaution.

Estimates from the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management are that waves hitting Hawke Bay are likely to be less than one metre in height.

The CDEM national advisory advises people should:
• Stay off beaches
• People should not go sightseeing in coastal areas
• Stay away from coastal areas including, tidal estuaries, rivers and streams for 24hours, as even small waves create dangerous currents
• Boats are generally safer in water deeper than 30m than closer to shore
• Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
• Listen to the radio or television for updates
• Follow the instructions of local Civil Defence

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