Kaikoura earthquake generated 6.9 metre tsunami

From Morning Report, 7:26 am on 5 May 2017

A review of the Kaikoura earthquake has revealed it generated an almost 7 metre tsunami but the minimal impact of the wave was down to luck.

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Photo: 123.rf

The review by the Ministry of Civil Defence found the tsunami would have caused more damage if it hadn't occurred at low tide and the land hadn't been simultaneously lifted upwards.

The largest wave was 6.9 meters in the Goose Bay area, just south of Kaikoura.

Several other areas had 3 to 4 metre waves.

Initially no tsunami warning was issued but 40 minutes later a change in sea level was recorded, prompting a tsunami warning to be issued an hour after the quake.

GNS's natural hazards division director Gill Jolly  and Civil Defence director Sarah Stuart-Black

GNS's natural hazards division director Gill Jolly and Civil Defence director Sarah Stuart-Black Photo: RNZ - Lucy Hall

Sarah Stuart-Black is the director of Civil Defence says the situation with the earthquake was changing rapidly overnight and it initially looked like an onshore earthquake which wouldn't trigger a tsunami.

Gill Jolly, GNS's natural hazards division director, says that due to complexity of the quake they are still trying to unravel the pieces of the jigsaw.