New Zealand issues tsunami warning after powerful quake

Location of a magnitude-7.4 quake that struck near Christchurch, New Zealand, on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. —US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

(UPDATED: 9:02 p.m., Nov. 13, 2016)

The Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management of New Zealand posted a tsunami warning at its website at 1:00 a.m. on Monday (8:00 p.m. Sunday Philippine time) following a strong quake that struck near the city of Christchurch shortly after midnight.

The warning gave the following guidelines:

“People near the eastern coast of the south island should immediately move to high ground or inland as far as possible. Take your getaway kit with you if possible. Do not travel into the areas at risk to get your kit or belongings. Take your pets with you if you can do so safely. Move immediately to the nearest higher ground, or as far inland as you can. If evacuation maps are present, follow the routes shown. Walk or bike if possible and drive only if essential.

“If driving, keep going once you are well outside the evacuation zone to allow room for others behind you. If you cannot escape the tsunami, go to an upper storey of a sturdy building or climb onto a roof or up a tree, or grab a floating object and hang on until help arrives. Boats are usually safer in water deeper than 20 metres than if they are on the shore.

“Move boats out to sea only if there is time and it is safe to do so. Never go to the shore to watch for a tsunami. Stay away from at-risk areas until the official all-clear is given. Listen to your local radio stations as emergency management officials will be broadcasting the most appropriate advice for your community and situation.”

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, however, that there was no immediate danger of a broader tsunami from the quake. /atm

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