Tsunami alert issued

Tsunami warnings have been issued for the East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel, and Banks Peninsula following a large earthquake off Chile.

Issuing the warning at noon on Thursday, the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management said people in affected areas should stay out of the water, off beaches and shore areas, and not go sightseeing.

A Coromandel school evacuated after misreading the timing of the warning.

Unusually strong currents and unpredictable water flows near the shore could be expected in the affected areas, the ministry said.

‘‘This means a threat to beach, harbour, estuary and small boat activities. The severity of currents and changing water flows will vary within a particular coastal area and over the period this warning is in effect.

‘‘Current assessments indicate that coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected but this assessment may change.’’

Expected arrival times after the 10.54am quake were 12 hours for the Chatham Islands and 13 hours for East Cape. Strong tidal currents were likely to go on for 24 hours, with a peak four-to-10 hours after the first arrival.

The ministry said it would issue hourly updates, with the tsunami warning to remain in effect until a cancellation message.

Gisborne Civil Defence emergency manager Louise Bennett said coastal communities in the district would be contacted about the steps people in those areas needed to take.

‘‘It’s mainly around asking people to stay away from the beach and secure the moorings of their vessels,’’ she said.

The first wave, if it came, was not due until 15 minutes after midnight on Friday.

‘‘We have a bit of preparation time.’’

Christchurch Civil Defence & Emergency Management said it was seeking more detailed information about the quake and the potential tsunami risk for coastal Banks Peninsula.

Mercury Bay Area School, in Whitianga, Coromandel, notified parents on the school’s Facebook page that all students had been evacuated and taken to the local sports ground.

The principal could not be reached for comment.

However, it was believed the school was acting on information from the national warning system, which stated the tsunami threat in UTC time, not NZ time, Waikato Civil Defence Controller Lee Hazelwood said.

‘‘That is the assumption. They have got the national warning, which is 12 hours out.’’