Tsunami warning sirens to sound on Sunday

The warning sirens used to alert people in coastal areas that a tsunami could be on its way will be tested on Sunday to coincide with the end of Daylight Savings.

Christchurch's tsunami warning sirens will be tested this weekend.

The sirens, located between Brooklands and Taylor’s Mistake will sound at 11am for up to three minutes. The sirens can usually be heard a few blocks from the coastline.

“People shouldn’t be alarmed to hear the sirens going off and don’t need to evacuate,’’ said Christchurch City Council Head of Civil Defence Alicia Palmer. “This is the first of two tests we do each year to ensure the sirens are working properly.

“It is a good reminder though to make sure you and your family have an evacuation plan and essential supplies at the ready in case you need to leave in a hurry.’’

Ms Palmer said while people in coastal areas were likely to get several hours warning of a distance source tsunami triggered by a large earthquake overseas, they might not have much time to evacuate if the tsunami was triggered by a very large earthquake off the coast of New Zealand.

“The risk of that type of tsunami is much lower than a distance-source tsunami but it is an eventuality people in coastal areas need to be prepared for.  There may not be time to activate the sirens in a local or regional source tsunami. In those circumstances the most important warning is the earthquake.

"If you’re in an earthquake that is strong enough to make it difficult to stand up, or a long rolling earthquake that lasts a minute or more, immediately evacuate,’’ Ms Palmer said.

If the sirens sound for more than 10 minutes on Sunday, then it is no longer a test and residents should evacuate.

The second tsunami warning siren test will take place in late September when Daylight Savings begins.

Find out more about tsunamis, including whether you are in an evacuation zone, and how you can prepare yourself.