New Zealand Police Alert 11:00am 3 Oct 2008 Canterbury

Location of incident: CHRISTCHURCH

Incident type: FALSE TSUNAMI CALL

URGENT MESSAGE FROM CHRISTCHURCH POLICE

A PERSON IS TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO LEAVE BEACH AREAS NEAR KAIRAKI BEACH. HE IS CONVINCING PEOPLE THAT THIS IS A GENUINE TSUNAMI.

THIS IS NOT CORRECT AND IT IS CREATING HAVOC WITH TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE TRYING TO LEAVE THE AREA.

PLEASE BROADCAST AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE THERE ARE NO TSUNAMI WARNINGS IN PLACE.

POLICE ARE NOW TALKING TO A PERSON HELPING WITH OUR ENQUIRIES.

ENDS