The New Zealand emergency agency has ordered the "immediate evacuation" of the population in the areas of the east coast of the North Island, after an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 on the Richter scale has shaken the area of the Kermadec Islands early Friday (local time), fearing a tsunami.
"Inhabitants of coastal areas (...) must immediately leave for the nearest high altitude area, outside of all tsunami evacuation zones, and as far inland as possible," the New Zealand emergency agency has asked. has issued a tsunami warning that affects the inhabitants of the coastal strip that extends from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei, and from Matata to Tolaga Bay, including the cities of Whakatane and Opotiki, and the Great Barrier Great Barrier Island.
The latest update of the emergency service includes in the tsunami warning to the strip of the west coast of the North Island, from Cape Reinga to Ahipara.
"Strong and unusual currents and unpredictable waves are expected near the coast," he said in a statement.
The alert does not affect the capital, Wellington, or Auckland, the country's largest city, located on the North Island.
The authorities have warned that the severity of currents and waves may vary according to the area during the period of validity of this warning, which poses “a threat to activities on the beach, the port, the estuary and small boats. ”.
And they have recalled that "it is possible that the first wave is not the largest", so they ask for caution until the warning is canceled.
TSUNAMI WARNING: Areas that need to evacuate are indicated on this map.
Evacuate these areas even if you did not feel the earthquake.
DO NOT WAIT.
A damaging tsunami is possible.
More info at https://t.co/ccVFYQQoBr pic.twitter.com/bnEgZy8ikF
- National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) March 4, 2021
The Kermadec are located between the North Island of New Zealand and the archipelago of Tonga.
Throughout today, the area has been affected by strong earthquakes, one of them 6.5 and the other 7.4.
New Zealand sits on the fault between the Pacific and Oceania tectonic plates and records about 14,000 earthquakes each year, of which between 100 and 150 are powerful enough to be perceived.
The authorities have indicated that the evacuation order cancels the restrictions due to covid-19.
However, they remember: "Stay 2 meters from others if you can and if it is safe to do so."
According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 19:28 GMT on Thursday and had its epicenter in the Kermandec Islands, northeast of Auckland, and about 800 kilometers from the coast.
Tsunami Warning in Hawaii
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned of the possibility of "dangerous tsunami waves" in the next three hours and has issued alerts for the coasts of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuato and Wallis and Futuna.
The Hawaii Emergency Authority has indicated that the degree of threat it may pose to the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington State, Alaska and the Canadian province of British Columbia is being investigated.
TSUNAMI WATCH issued for the Hawaiian Islands
Please stand by for further updates.
Tsunami Info Stmt: M8.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 1129PST Mar4: Event is being reviewed to determine threat to CA, OR, WA, BC, & AK
- Hawaii EMA (@Hawaii_EMA) March 4, 2021
In other countries whose coasts face the Pacific, such as Chile, local authorities have ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.
So far no damage has been reported.
The president of the country, Jacinda Ardern, published a message on her social networks after the first earthquake, in which she wanted the population to be safe.
"I hope everyone is well, especially on the east coast, where they have felt the full force of that earthquake," he indicated in a message accompanied by a map showing the intensity with which it was felt.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern)