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Japan Tsunami potential threat to NZ update warn officials
Wellington, March 11 – Civil Defence Authorities have warned there is a potential threat of a tsunami reaching New Zealand after a magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck Japan just before 7pm New Zealand time.
No official warning has been issued but officials said the threat was sill being assessed.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said shortly after the quake that a tsunami warning was in place for New Zealand, Australia and most countries bordering the Pacific Ocean.
The Centre gave an estimated arrival time for any tsunami of 6.14am (NZ Time) at the North Cape (NZ time Saturday).
Television news channels showed dramatic pictures of a tsunami at least four metres high washing away cars and boats, while tearing through buildings on Japan’s eastern coast.
The quake was initially assessed as 7.4 but the US geological survey to 8.9.
The quake struck at a depth of 10km, about 125km off the eastern coast around 400km northeast of Tokyo.
There were reports of violent shaking and pictures showed buildings on fire.
CNN said at least 40 people had been reported dead immediately
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