Chile has issued a “yellow alert” due to the threat of a tsunami after the earthquake in New Zealand: evacuation of the beach has been ordered

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued a tidal wave alert across the Pacific on Friday after a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck near New Zealand’s remote Kermadec Islands after two powerful shakes. “Based on all available data, dangerous tsunami waves are forecast on some coasts”the US agency said.

In view of this, Chile also announced that it was declaring a “yellow alert” due to the threat of a tsunami on its coast.

The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy (SHOA) has indicated that, based on its assessments and those of the PTWC, it has decided to declare State of precaution of the national coast, including the island territory, by the magnitude 8.1 of the New Zealand earthquake.

Yes the National Emergency Office of Chile (ONEMI) declared Yellow alert for the municipalities of the national coast, including the island territory, “because of the threat of a tsunami, effective from today and until conditions justify it”.

Likewise, ONEMI recalled that the abandonment of the beach as a precaution must be carried out at different times depending on the area:

-At 10 p.m. this Thursday, the area of ​​the Easter Island plaza must be evacuated.

– At 1:00 a.m. on Friday, the beach areas of Ñuble, Biobío, La Araucania, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, San Félix Island, Juan Fernández and Antarctica (Prat Base) will be evacuated.

– At 2:00 am on Friday, the beach area of ​​Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, O’Higgins and Maule must be evacuated due to a precautionary state.

– At 3:00 am, the authorities must evacuate the beach area of ​​Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta.

-At 04h00 on Friday, the area of ​​Magallanes beach must be evacuated.

-And at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, Aysén beach will have to be evacuated.

“We call for the tranquility of the population and remain informed through official channels”, Underlined ONEMI from his Twitter account.

New Zealand ordered shoreline evacuation as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of the possibility of waves of up to three meters (10 feet) in countries in the Pacific region, Vanuatu and the French territory of New Caledonia.

Smaller waves have also been said to be possible as far away as Japan, Russia and Mexico.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 8.1 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale had its epicenter in the Kermandec Islands, 1,033 kilometers off the coast of New Zealand, with a depth of of 19 kilometers. It occurred at 19:28 GMT on Thursday and was preceded by less intense tremors.

With information from AFP and EFE

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