Updated at 7:06am NZ Time on 28 February 2010
The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management is warning coastal communities in New Zealand of a tsunami following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile. It is warning of waves of up to three metres high in some areas. The ministry says the first wave is due to hit the Chatham Islands at 7.22am on Sunday. However the first wave may arrive later and may not be the largest. Strong currents and unusual tidal effects may continue for several hours. The tsunami warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message is issued. At this stage, Civil Defence expects the greatest wave heights will occur between six and 12 hours after the initial arrivals. People in coastal areas are warned to stay away from beaches and out of all waterways. Civil Defence believes a threat exists for the entire east coasts of the North and South Islands from Puysegur around to Cape Reinga and extending south to Ahipara. Some land threat also exists for the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula.
The waves are expected at St Clair in Dunedin at 8.29, New Brighton at Christchurch at 9.05, Wellington at Pencarrow Head at 8.25, and North Head at Auckland at 10.22.
Tsunami alerts have been issued for 53 countries. They cover virtually all nations on the entire Pacific rim as well the islands of the Pacific Ocean, including Fiji, Nauru, the Solomons, Vanuatu, Kermadec Island, the two Samoas,Tonga, Kiribati, and the Cook Islands.
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