Lifesavers Evacuate Warrington Beach, Domain

Members of Warrington Surf Life Saving Club evacuated Warrington beach and the adjacent camping area on Warrington Domain after hearing a tsunami alert for coastal New Zealand. The life guards, lacking any legal status, used powers of persuasion to encourage people to leave.

The beach was cleared by 8.30am on Sunday and the last campers had left the domain by 9am.

Life guards have declared a 'no swimming' status for the day and the normal surf patrol scheduled between 12 noon and 5pm has been re-rostered to patrol the entrances to the beach area for the entire day.

A large crowd of sightseers, including several visiting German high-school pupils staying at a local school camp, had gathered at high points along Warrington's Esplanade to watch for waves arriving at the beach.

Two walkers who went on to on the beach with a dog after ignoring warnings about 9am were spoken to by the Police and returned to high ground.

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