The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management and GNS Science have assessed that the magnitude M7.9 Gulf of Alaska earthquake at 2018-01-23 10:32 PM. Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will affect New Zealand. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected.

Update: Tuesday 24/01/18 GNS Science have monitored the waves overnight from the 7.9 Alaska earthquake, and have advised there’s no indication that waves generated would be large enough to cause wave disturbances in New Zealand. This means that strong currents or surges are no longer likely.

Any further updates will be published on the MCDEM website www.civildefence.govt.nz, NZCivilDefence Facebook page and Twitter @NZCivilDefence.

Only messages issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management represent the official warning status for New Zealand.

We can’t stop tsunamis from happening BUT we can prepare for them. Want to know how? Here are some great places to go to get more information about New Zealand and preparing for tsunamis:

• Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management
• Advice for people in coastal areas
• Tsunami zone maps
• EQC
• East Coast Lab

You can read more about our tsunami threats and history here.

And read here to find out how our scientists accurately predict the arrival time of tsunami waves to NZ shores