Tsunami Alert Glitch: Civil Defence Investigates Multiple Early Alarms

Residents across New Zealand were caught off guard by a series of unexpected tsunami alerts that disrupted their sleep and raised concerns about the reliability of emergency communication systems. According to National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) director John Price, the alerts were the result of a “glitch” that led to multiple notifications being sent to people in coastal areas, even though the official tsunami advisory was issued only twice: once at 4.12pm yesterday and again at 6.30am this morning.

The alerts were triggered following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in eastern Russia, which prompted tsunami warnings across multiple countries. However, some individuals reported receiving alerts at unusual times, including between 1.50am and 3am, when the risk of a tsunami was not expected. One person with autism described being “petrified to go back to sleep” after being woken by an alert at 1.54am, while another user on the Herald’s Instagram said they were “getting spammed with them” and received at least 15 alerts.

John Price acknowledged the issue and confirmed that Nema is actively investigating the cause of the glitch. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the emergency alert system functions correctly, as it is crucial for keeping New Zealanders safe. “We don’t want to disturb New Zealanders,” he said, adding that the agency would be working closely with telco and software providers to identify the root cause of the problem.

Price also addressed concerns about the potential impact of the tsunami, noting that even a 40cm wave could be an indicator of larger waves to come. He urged residents not to be complacent, citing international examples where larger waves had occurred in other regions. “The last thing we want to be is complacent. We know complacency puts people at risk and may kill people,” he said.

While the exact number of people affected by the glitch remains unclear, Price noted that during the annual test of the alert system, approximately 5 million people received the messages, as that is the number of phones that are typically active at the time. The second alert at 6.30am this morning was sent to ensure that people heading to school and work were aware of the potential risk.

As the investigation continues, Nema is committed to improving the reliability of the emergency alert system to prevent similar incidents in the future. Residents are advised to remain alert for “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore” and to follow official guidance from Civil Defence.