Tsunami Risk and Preparedness in NZ
A new report (one of two) sparked by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Asia says NZ is more at risk of tsunami than originally thought and could face serious loss of life if it does nothing to improve warning systems. Civil Defence officials and the government are now urging the public to be as prepared for tsunami as they would be for an earthquake. The experts who did the studies estimate that 10,000 people could die across the country in the worst-case scenario of there being no adequate warning system when a one in-500-year tidal wave hits in the night while people are sleeping.
The reports, commissioned by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management from GNS Science, show that no part of the NZ coast is completely free from tsunami risk. However, the east coasts of both the North and South Islands are most at risk - with Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, the Wairarapa coast, Wellington, the Kaikoura coast, Christchurch and Dunedin most exposed. The east coasts of Northland and Coromandel are also considered exposed, as is the Chathams Islands. The east coast of both islands is exposed to tsunami waves generated by quakes on South America's west coast - but the east coast of the North Island is especially at risk from tsunami generated by local earthquakes.
One report deals with the risk of tsunami and the other with NZ's level of preparedness. Both reports can be found at www.civildefence.govt.nz |
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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