MEDIA: NO USE OF STANDARD EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNAL (SEWS) TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE AND FREQUENT BROADCAST ********************************************************************************
TSUNAMI WARNING NUMBER 3 FOR PARTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES Issued by the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) at 09:25 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009
Tsunami warning for the marine environment for parts of NEW SOUTH WALES.
Threatened areas extend from Gabo Island to Seal Rocks including Batemans Bay, Bellambi, Botany Bay, Gabo Island, Jervis Bay, Kiama, Merimbula, Montague Island, Moruya, Moruya Heads, Narooma, Nelson Bay, Norah Head, Shell Harbour, Sydney Harbour, Ulladulla and Wollongong.
Possibility of DANGEROUS WAVES, STRONG OCEAN CURRENTS AND SOME LOCALISED OVERFLOW ONTO THE IMMEDIATE FORESHORE for several hours from 09:45 pm (EST) Wednesday.
Although major evacuations are not required, people are advised to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water's edge.
Next update will be issued by 10:25 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009
For latest and further information call 1300 TSUNAMI (1300 878 6264) or visit www.bom.gov.au
A threat of DANGEROUS WAVES, STRONG OCEAN CURRENTS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME LOCALISED OVERFLOW ONTO THE IMMEDIATE FORESHORE exists for parts of NEW SOUTH WALES from Gabo Island to Seal Rocks including Batemans Bay, Bellambi, Botany Bay, Gabo Island, Jervis Bay, Kiama, Merimbula, Montague Island, Moruya, Moruya Heads, Narooma, Nelson Bay, Norah Head, Shell Harbour, Sydney Harbour, Ulladulla and Wollongong.
Tsunami effects are expected at the following locations from these times:
Port Kembla after 09:45 pm (EST) Wednesday Batemans Bay after 09:45 pm (EST) Wednesday Eden after 09:45 pm (EST) Wednesday Sydney after 10:00 pm (EST) Wednesday Newcastle after 10:15 pm (EST) Wednesday
COMMUNITY RESPONSE ADVICE FROM THE NEW SOUTH WALES STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE
- While major evacuations in these areas are not required, people are advised to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water's edge of harbours, coastal estuaries, rock platforms and beaches.
- Boats in harbours, estuaries or shallow coastal water should return to shore. Secure your boat and move away from the waterfront.
- Vessels already at sea should stay offshore in deep water until further advised.
- Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami, as there is the possibility of dangerous, localised flooding of the immediate foreshore.
- Check that your neighbours have received this advice.
CAUTION: Tsunami waves are more powerful than the same size beach waves, with the first wave not necessarily being the largest.
Low-level effects may be observed in neighbouring coastal areas. People are advised to take care.
TSUNAMI SOURCE: An undersea earthquake of magnitude 7.9 (Latitude 45.960S Longitude 166.470E ) occurred at 07:22 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009 near OFF W. COAST OF S. ISLAND, N.Z..
Sea level observations have confirmed a tsunami has been generated.
EST = Eastern Standard Time CST = Central Standard Time = EST - 30 minutes WST = Western Standard Time = EST - 2 hours
The JATWC is operated by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia ********************************************************************************
