Read our live updates/timeline from 8pm Friday through until 5:30pm Saturday as the earthquake and tsunami disaster unfolded.

Get breaking tsunami news updates to your Facebook wall.  Simply click here.  We’re promoting this service incase our website should crash due to overloading.

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That concludes our LIVE coverage of the Japan earthquake/Pacific tsunami for today. Thank you all for your updates and support. If anything significant occurs this evening we will strive to bring it to you, otherwise keep up to date with NewstalkZB on air and NZHerald.co.nz online.

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6:15pm:  All warnings for NZ now CANCELLED – Click here for more details

5:14pm:  The death toll has reached 398 and is likely to rise to more than 1000, while 805 people are still unaccounted for, reports various news agencies.

4:51pm:  Two Maps – 1) Close up of all the latest quakes around Japan.  2) From space, showing all current quakes on this side of the world, Japan’s cluster clearly stands out.

4:42pm:  Civil Defence NZ – latest Warnings and NZ Threat Map – Click here to view

4:31pm:  Auckland Civil Defence advises that the marine threat for Auckland from the recent earthquake in Japan is continuing. Larger than normal swells and fast-running currents are still being experienced in the region.  Existing advice remains in place:

• Do not swim at Auckland’s beaches, estuaries and harbours
• Listen to the radio for civil defence updates
• Rock fishermen should stay off the rocks
• The Harbourmaster has advised that ships do NOT need to leave port but all mariners are advised to navigate with caution and have a listening watch on VHF channel 16

Clive Manley, Auckland Civil Defence Controller, says that fluctuations in swell and current are continuing longer than anticipated and that boaties and the public should remain vigilant.

4:28pm:  Current temperature in Sendai is 2 degrees C, dropping to 0 tonight.  Tomorrow’s high in the worst hit region is 14C, well up on todays high of 8C.

4:17pm:  Several beaches in NZ are considered unsafe this afternoon, reports WeatherWatch.co.nz, due to tsunami activity.  Dangerous rips and currents are the main concern at the following beaches/regions: Christchurch, Napier, Gisborne, East Cape, North Cape, Manukau.

3:59pm:  Contact lost with four trains in coastal areas of Japan – CNN

3:39pm:  Tsunami swells have arrived in Christchurch – stay away from beaches and coastlines – WW.

3:37pm:  6.8 aftershock 25kms deep, 120kms off the coast of Japan

3:26pm:  BREAKING NEWS — California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency after waves inundated beaches, ports and harbours, destroying public and private property and threatening numerous structures. In some cities, residents were evacuated and businesses were forced to close.  LA Times

3:16pm:  BREAKING NEWS — 6.1 quake hits TONGA, 11kms deep

3:00pm:  M 5.4 aftershock, near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, 25kms deep.

2:41pm:  Surfers and swimmers ignore warnings at Mt Maunganui beach despite tsunami swells, rips and currents moving through the area now.

2:26pm:  The Japanese learnt about the massive earthquake about one minute before they could feel its violent shock waves, thanks to an early-warning system renowned to be the world’s best reports NewstalkZB.  The sophisticated system is connected to network of about 1000 seismometers around the country which detect and analyse primary waves of quakes and issue warnings if the tremors are predicted to be powerful.  The alarms allow just enough time to take cover.   Hirohito Naito, a seismic specialist at the Japan Meteorological Agency, says the system functioned well because warnings appeared on media, emails and mobiles across the country.

2:22pm:  BREAKING NEWS:  Up to 20 New Zealanders are thought to be unaccounted for in quake-stricken areas of Japan, the New Zealand ambassador in Japan says. More info via NZ Herald

2:20pm:  BREAKING NEWS: It appears waves of over 1 metre have hit Gisborne & 1.5 metres Chatham Islands – having trouble confirming with NZ authorities

2:10pm:  Reuters – “Japanese officials may only have hours to cool reactors that have been disabled by Friday’s massive earthquake and tsunami or face a nuclear meltdown”

2:08pm:  New Video of tsunami storm surge an hour after first big wave hit Hawaii – Click here to view

2:02pm:  Latest Civil Defence Warning and Threat/Warning map – http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/tsunami-warning-issued-upper-north-island-chatham-islands

2:01pm:  Two nuclear facilities having major problems in Japan – this may well become the next big story once the Tsunami news starts to fade later today – WeatherWatch.co.nz

1:43pm:  Image below clearly shows Tsunami’s impact on NZ.  Most waves are less than 50cm with the exception – it appears – of the Chatham Islands.

Click image for live readings

1:39pm:  From WeatherWatch.co.nz reader Greer Ell who is currently on holiday in Hawaii: “Standing on Waikiki Beach and shore line is being sucked in and out 20 metres like someone is letting the plug out in a bath. Amazing!! All reef becomes exposed and then tide comes right back in again. Reef that has NEVER been seen before! 

1:24pm:  Voice Of America’s Steve Herman says “Greenpeace predictably horrified by venting of radioactive steam at Fukushima. Experts I’m consulting confident we’re not facing Chernobyl”.  He is currently boarding a plane from Seoul and heading to Japan.  One of the issues we’re having is a lack of coverage from enlgish speaking journalists – we’ll keep you up to date with Steve’s updates.

1:03pm:  BREAKING NEWS:  From a WeatherWatch.co.nz reader: “Significant wave surge at Tutukaka marina. One vessel broke it’s mooring & had to be towed out to a nearby bay. Other moored boats were nosing down into the water & pulling at their ropes. A few power boats seemed to be struggling against the surge as they were trying to navigate the channel out of the marina. Very brown, bubbling water raised the water level by more than a metre at the boat ramp. One vehicle had to be removed quickly before being overwhelmed by the tide (small, attached trailer completely submerged)”.

1:01pm:  New Zealand will send six Urban Search and Rescue staff to Japan immediately to help with earthquake efforts, John Key said – NZPA

12:59pm:  Incredible photo from CNN
 

12:28pm:  First video in from New Zealand of tsunami surge in Bay of Islands – click here to view

12:15pm:  Auckland Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley says the marine threat to Auckland from the recent earthquake in Japan is likely to result in swells and fast-running currents until at least 2pm today.

Existing advice remains in place:

Do not swim at Auckland’s beaches, estuaries and harbours
Civil defence updates continue on the radio.
The Harbourmaster has advised that ships do NOT need to leave port but all mariners are advised to navigate with caution and have a listening watch on VHF channel 16

“The swells anticipated by civil defence from modelling have been matched by reports from the Auckland Harbourmaster.

“We strongly advise boaties to exercise caution in fluctuating swells, and advise swimmers to avoid swimming until 2pm at the earliest,” he says.

The Auckland Group Emergency Coordination Centre will release further
information as soon as it becomes available.

12:07pm:  Live streaming TV from Japan – click here to view

12:01pm:  ANIMATION of quake across Pacific Ocean – from NOAA – http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/animation-japanese-tsunami-spreading-across-pacific-ocean

12noon:  8am in Tokyo and currently 5 degrees C.  1 degrees C in hardest hit places in the north.

11:59am:  This image, taken at 11:57am, shows all the current earthquakes in western Pacific Ocean.  Note the only quakes recorded have been in Japan.

11:55am:  Stay away from Auckland beaches – while it’s calm and mostly sunny the tsunami waves/currents/rips are building in strength right now.

11:53am:  Japanese search and rescue team in Christchurch races home, says NZHerald.co.nz

11:50am:  Rescue teams from Australia have been asked to assist the Japanese.  The teams have been recently busy in Christchurch and early in Queensland says Kevin Rudd.

11:41am:  A man was swept out to sea after travelling into dangerous waters off the Californian coast to take photos of incoming tsunami waves.   In spite of warnings about the weather, the man and two of his friends waded into the Pacific Ocean in Del Norte County, approximately 300 miles north of San Francisco, to get better pictures – The Herald Sun

11:20am:  Tsunami waves and currents getting stronger around North Island, north of Gisborne in the east and Auckland in the west.

11:16am:  Civil Defence issues LATEST WARNINGS and updates THREAT MAP

11:10am:  The first live pictures since yesterday in northern Japan are coming through … one word sums footage up:  “Apocalyptic”

11:06am:  It’s a bitterly cold morning in Tokyo and up the tsunami hit coastline this morning.  WeatherWatch.co.nz reports that it is currently just 1 or 2 degrees.

11:01am:  Radioactive steam being vented at damaged Japanese plant. Fear spreading around the world at the news.  Radiation levels are now 1000 times higher than they should be at this particular plant.  Mass evacuations of the area underway.

10:56am:  Catholic spokesman on Fox News says “today is the day we should get around to doing things for our loved ones”.

10:53am:  1000 people reported dead or missing

10:52am:  BBC says Twitter was receiving 1000 tweets per minute from Tokyo immediately after the quake

10:51am:  It is becoming increasingly clear that it’s not just homes that have washed away, but entire towns completely wiped out by tsunami and fire.

10:45am:  Voice Of America Bureau Chief Steve Herman, who follows Philip Duncan on Twitter, and who is based in Seoul has just tweeted the following:  “Officials now saying radiation at Fukushima nuke plant 1,000X normal level”

10:41am:  NASA geophysicist Richard Gross calculated that Earth’s rotation sped up by 1.6 microseconds. That’s because of the shift in Earth’s mass caused by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second – Washington Post

10:38am:  Slight Tsunami now affecting Manukau Harbour.  Stay away from beaches until further notice.

10:37am:  While it might feel like the world is ending, WeatherWatch.co.nz says the quakes in New Zealand, Japan, China and other nations are all totally unrelated.

10:34am:  BBC reporting that radioactive gas will be released from damaged Nuclear Power Plant

10:32am:  Japan’s Prime Minister ordering evacuations for 10km around Fukushima nuke plant according to news reports

10:19am:  Reports remain sketchy about the state of the damaged Nuclear Power plant in Japan.  a 3km wide zone has been evacuated.

10:17am:  An aftershock measuring 6.3 has just been recorded east of Japan at a depth of 9kms.

10:10am:  As many as 6000 New Zealanders could be in quake-stricken Japan, says New Zealand’s ambassador there – NZPA

10:03am:  Live tsunami readings from around New Zealand.  Click to view (and to see most recent update)

9:55am:  President Obama mentions New Zealand and Haiti when talking about thinking of loved ones at a time like this.

9:53am:  Yet another earthquake on the side of Japan near Nagano – this one 5.5

9:51am:  Tsunami reaches California, sinking boats, breaking docks and causing evacuations at Santa Cruz.

9:39am:  6.6 quake was recorded 70kms WEST of Japan’s northern tip, not east like the majority of other quakes. 

9:37am:  Two sizeable earthquakes have hit Japan – possibly not aftershocks due to their location.  They are 6.2 and 6.6 both just 1km deep. 

9:36am:  Waves still building in height at Raoul Island (NZ island 1000kms northwest of Auckland)

9:24am:  GeoNet instruments now detecting a very small tsunami in Auckland

9:23am:  WeatherWatch.co.nz says the force behind the tsunami (ie, currents, rips) will be more dangerous than the waves themselves here in NZ.

9:20am:  Scientist on Sky News says he is surprised New Zealand has a warning in force – says he believes the tsunami will travel along the coastlines rather than up them, but admits localised beaches and underwater terrain can have serious impacts and that clearly the NZ Govt is looking at some sophisticated modelling.

9:10am:  Tokyo has been spared significant damage despite the city’s transport systems and highways all shut down.  Damage to the iconic tower too – photos show the top of the tower bent.

9:07am:  WeatherWatch.co.nz says seas around New Zealand will remain dangerous for the rest of today, even though the waves are small.  Tomorrow people should be able to safely be on the beach but seas may still be considered unsafe for swimming and surfing.

9:05am:  Small tsunami now being detected in Tauranga and Gisborne – please stay away from beaches right around NZ, even though the waves are small. 

9:01am:  Nuclear Emergency still in force across Japan – 11 reactors shut down, one poses a serious risk to health and safety.

8:51am:  Civil Defence say waves are only reaching 30cm at this stage but are expected to increase to just over one metre in the coming 4 hours.  Stay off beaches.  Stay away from the coast.

8:49am:  Sky News UK explaing that northern New Zealand on “high alert” as small tsunami heads away.  Points out how remarkable it is that a country so far away from Japan can be affected.  Civil Defence now speaking live to SKY

8:48am:  Map showing the 50+ quakes including this morning’s new earthquake near Nagano.

8:44am:  New Video just in from California showing strong currents from tsunami pushing and slamming boats around:  http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/new-video-tsunami-reaches-california-slams-boats-around

8:35am:  New earthquake near Nagano was just 1km deep – and may be a seperate quake and not an aftershock.

8:33am:  Ripple affect of tsunami now affecting North Cape, East Cape and Great Barrier Island.  Even though seas are calm please stay AWAY from beaches and estuaries.

8:25am:  Civil Defence – “It is important to note that higher wave amplitudes are expected to follow in the next few hours based on modelling”.

8:21am:  Waiheke News reporting Fullers services in Auckland running as usual.  “Tsunami warning is in place but all Fullers services are running as scheduled. We do not expect any major disruptions to our commuter services or tours” – Fullers.

8:20am:  No new tsunami alerts as a result of aftershock – CNN

8:19am:  CNN constantly mentioning Christchurch Earthquake in comparison to Friday’s 8.9 and this morning’s 6.6 quakes in/around Japan.

8:17am:  Serious 6.6 aftershock recorded near Nagano – home of the winter olympics in 1998

8:15am:  “The entire coast of Japan has permanently moved 8ft (2.4m) after this earthquake” – USGS

8:13am:  Reports that Friday’s 8.9 quake was 8000 times more powerful than the 6.3 aftershock in Christchurch, New Zealand, on February 22.

8:00am:  From our Facebook Page: Manuela Gmuer Hornell:  “I can now confirm “funny tides” in Opua, Bay of Islands… had two changes within the last 20 minutes”.

7:54am:  Tsunami now being detected at North Cape, Great Barrier Island and East Cape.  While the waves aren’t going to be huge the currents and rips will be incredibly strong and dangerous for the rest of Saturday.  You can view the live buoys here: http://www.geonet.org.nz/tsunami/

7:48am:  Dangerous potentially deadly rips and currents will remain in NZ waters for the rest of today says WeatherWatch.co.nz

7:46am:  WeatherWatch.co.nz says even though tsunami waves in NZ will be small today (less than one metre) they are still incredibly dangerous.  Stay away from all coastal areas in NZ until further notice. 

7:45am:  Civil Defence: “Don’t go into the water today”

7:43am:  Small Tsunami appears to be now reaching Great Barrier Island and East Cape – still less than one metre.

7:36am:  First Tsunami waves reach North Cape – are so far less than 1 metre according to GeoNet buoys.

7:33am:  Japan’s PM, Naoto Kan, tells President Obama: No evidence of radiation leaks from nuclear reactors due to quake — CNN

7:22am:  Serious fears of potential radiation leak at damaged Japanese nuclear power plant.

7:18am:  “Despite our cultural differences…ultimately humanity is one” says President Obama

7:13am:  Dramatic Animation showing tsunami racing across the Pacific Ocean: http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/animation-japanese-tsunami-spreading-across-pacific-ocean

7:07am:  Via our Facebook page:  Emma Howard-smith – Just heard that the Snapper Bonanza competition has been cancelled for today. A patrol drove the length of 90 mile beach last night to check that no-one was camping on the beach (which some competitors normally do) so hopefully everyone is off the beach.

6:53am:  NOAA Center for Tsunami in America has released this graphic showing where the tsunami will travel.

6:47am:  It’s now been 12 hours since the 8.9 quake struck.  People still stuck in gridlock traffic in Tokyo.

6:46am:   California emergency agency says sees tsunami between several centimetres and 2 metres.

6:44am:  WeatherWatch.co.nz says social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook are being used for the first time ever for such an emergency. 

6:39am:  Unreal photos of the tsunami are emerging.  Click here to view

6:34am:  President Barrack Obama says there are no reports of serious damage so far in American states.

6:27am:  WeatherWatch.co.nz reader Emma Howard-smith tells us via Facebook: “We live at Ahipara – shame it’s not light yet we can’t see anything from our house but our local siren went off at 5.30am”.

6:26am:  Auckland Civil Defence continues their Tsunami marine threat for Auckland.   Expected arrival 07.23 west coast tomorrow and 08.05 east coast.  Auckland Civil Defence has issued a tsunami warning for the Auckland region’s coastlines.  The warning is for:   Up to 1m tsunami including strong currents, tidal flows and disturbed seas and estuaries.

• Auckland Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley has confirmed the following:
• No evacuations are required
• The Harbourmaster has advised that ships do NOT need to leave port but all mariners are advised to navigate with caution and have a listening watch on VHF channel 16
• Mariners on board their vessels should check its security tomorrow morning
• Any beach activities or events planned for Saturday should be postponed
• The Waiheke Coastal Classic Fun Run and Walk has been postponed until Sunday.

6:24am:  Fears of nuclear radiation leak at Japanese nuclear reactor.  No immediate threat but residents in vicinity have been evacuated. 

6:23am:  Civil Defence advice suggests the first tsunami waves are now reaching North Cape – 6:23am

6:13am:  Evacuations near a nuclear power plant in Japan after cooling waters were knocked out on Friday following the 8.9 quake and tsunami.  The Japanese govt has declared a nuclear emergency however there are no immediate concerns for a nuclear meltdown.

6:09am:  NZ wave times and heights can be found here: http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/tsunami-warning-issued-upper-north-island-chatham-islands

6:05am:  More misery for Japan as a dam bursts in Fukushima Prefecture, washing away scores of homes, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reports.

6:00am:  NZ Civil Defence warns a “minor” wave of 1 to 3 metres is possible in the northern half of Northland – between Ahipara and the Karikari Peninsula as well as in the Bay of Islands and the Chatham Islands

5:58am:  Auckland Civil Defence:  Any beach activities or events planned for Saturday should be postponed

5:53am:  Powerful aftershocks continue to rock Japan this morning.  Here are all the quakes over 4.0 as recorded by the USGS.

5:45am:  Friday’s earthquake was the most powerful in Japan in 140 years.

5:43am:  CNN reporting over 80 fires raging in Japan, including one at an oil refinery.

5:37am:  Around 10 hours since the earthquake hit and Tokyo is still in gridlick (currently 1:37am local time).

5:30am:  Tsunami over 2 metres high affects Hawaii overnight but causes no immediate damage.

5:30am:  Thousands feared dead in Japan.

12:50am:  Tokyo grinds to a halt in gridlock traffic

12:48am:  Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre lifts Tsunami Warning for New Zealand and Taiwan.  Please note Civil Defence is our only official tsunami warning centre.

12:44am:  The Waiheke Coastal Classic Fun Run and Walk has been postponed until Sunday.

12:36am:  BBC reports a ship containing 100 people was caught up in Japan’s tsunami.

12:34am:  Auckland Civil Defence has issued a tsunami warning for the Auckland region’s coastlines.   Expected arrival 07.23 west coast tomorrow and 08.05 east coast

The warning is for:  Up to 1m tsunami including strong currents, tidal flows and disturbed seas and estuaries.

Auckland Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley has confirmed the following:
· No evacuations are required
· The Harbourmaster has advised that ships do NOT need to leave port but all mariners are advised to navigate with caution and have a listening watch on VHF channel 16
· Mariners on board their vessels should check its security tomorrow morning
· Any beach activities or events planned for Saturday should be postponed
· The Waiheke Coastal Classic Fun Run and Walk has been postponed until Sunday.

“New Zealand is at the periphery of the tsunami threat but we are monitoring developments and awaiting further information through the night,” says Clive Manley.

People need to:
· Turn on their radios and listen to the advice from civil defence
· Keep away from areas below until cancellation of the warning:
· Low-lying areas / roads / bridges
· Beaches
· Estuaries
· Marinas and harbours due to fast-running currents

12:29am:  Tsunami warning lifted for Taiwan – no sizeable tsunami reported.

12:16am:  Japan declares atomic power emergency but says no radiation leaks

12:15am:  Many people trapped inside damaged buildings in Japan as rescuers struggle to mobilise with roads, rail and airports mostly closed.

12:13am:  Aftershocks have been very powerful near Japan tonight.  7.1 and 6.8 are two with many in 5 and 6 range

12:08am:  Japanese authorities issue an Emergency Declaration following the failure of cooling waters to one of their nuclear reactors.  They stress there is no imminent danger, however have advised people in the area to stay indoors.

11:52pm:  BREAKING — Water cannot be pumped into Nuclear power plant cooler in Japan

11:43pm:  Scientists spoken to by CNN say the tsunami generated by today’s quake is much bigger than that from Chile this time last year.

11:40pm:  Huge numbers of aftershocks in Japan this evening – as you can see in this Google Earth snapshot.

11:36pm:  NZ Herald reports official death toll in Japan already at 32.  Hundreds of homes have been washed away.

11:30pm:  Entire towns in Japan have been wiped off the earth following a 10 metre high tsunami.

11:26pm:    Get breaking tsunami news updates to your Facebook wall.  Simply click here.  We’re promoting this service incase our website should crash due to overloading.

11:19pm:  NZ Civil Defence – A tsunami marine warning is in effect for New Zealand and the warning remains unchanged: 

The tsunami warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message is issued by MCDEM.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) has issued a Tsunami Warning for New Zealand in response to the above earthquake. The New Zealand Tsunami Expert Panel assessment is that there is a marine threat only for New Zealand. A marine threat means strong and unusual currents are possible in the sea, river mouths and estuaries, and unusual wave activity is possible at the beach. No land threat is expected at this time.

Historical events and pre-calculated tsunami models indicate that the largest effects (less than 1m wave height at the coastline) is expected along the coasts of the central and northern North Island (i.e. from East Cape northwards and from Kaipara northwards).

First arrivals in the upper North Island are expected to coincide with a low tide.

11:18pm:  CNN News Anchor sums up tonight’s TV footage as one of the most incredible events ever witnessed in history.

11:15pm:  CCTV footage just in of tsunami hitting a Japanese airport: http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/cctv-video-tsunami-wave-hitting-japanese-airport

11:10pm:  Death toll now at 12 in Japan, with many missing – via CNN

11:08pm:  Civil Defence launch temporary site on Google:  Https://sites.google.com/site/ministryofcivildefencenz/

11:03pm:  20 Pacific Island countries now have Tsunami Warnings

10:59pm:  Japanese authorties warn aftershocks may cause more tsunami overnight.

10:58pm:  WeatherWatch.co.nz says people in NZ should stay OUT of the sea on Saturday right around NZ due to potentially deadly rips, currents and waves.

10:57pm:  Taranaki Civil Defence says tsunami wave may bring unusual currents to Taranaki on Saturday.  “Any effects of a tsunami wave from Friday’s 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan are expected to arrive in New Plymouth at or after 8.08am on Saturday 12 March.

10:52pm:  Fire breaks out at Onagawa nuclear plant in north-east Japan following earthquake.

10:49pm:  NOAA in America releases image of how the tsunami will travel across the Pacific

10:46pm:  Antennae on top of the iconic Tokyo Tower appears to be bent following today’s powerful quake.

10:45pm:  Yen falls sharply after quake – CNN

10:45pm:  Major fire continues to burn out of control at an oil refinery hit by the tsunami.

10:45pm:  The Japanese Meteorological Agency says a large scale tsunami continues to affect the coast of Japan this evening.

10:44pm:  Japanese authorities say there have been many strong aftershocks and warning they will continue.

10:43pm:  CNN reports the tsunami that hit Japan was 10 metres high

10:34pm:  Google’s homepage informs NZers of tsunami threat.

10:30pm:  NZ Civil Defence – First arrivals of tsunami in the upper North Island are expected to coincide with a low tide.

10:28pm: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre forecasts the tsunami wave should reach New Zealand first at North Cape 6.23am, the East Cape and Auckland (west coast) at 7.23am, Gisborne at 7.29am, Milford Sound 7.47am, Wellington 7.53am, Auckland (east coast)8.05am, New Plymouth 8.08am, Napier 8.17am, Westport 8.37am, Dunedin 9.29am, Lyttelton 10.03am, Bluff 10.20am and Nelson at 11.15am.

10:27pm:

10:22pm:  NZ Civil Defence – A tsunami marine warning is in effect for New Zealand.  The tsunami warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message is issued by MCDEM.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) has issued a Tsunami Warning for New Zealand in response to the above earthquake. The New Zealand Tsunami Expert Panel assessment is that this is a marine threat only for New Zealand. A Marine Threat means strong and unusual currents are possible in the sea, rivers and estuaries. No land threat is expected at this time.

Historical events and pre-calculated tsunami models indicate that the largest impact (up to 1 m wave height at the coastline) is expected along the coasts of the central and northern North Island (i.e. from East Cape northwards and from Kaipara northwards). First arrivals in the upper North Island are expected to coincide with a low tide.

Only messages issued by MCDEM represent the official warning status for New Zealand. Local civil defence authorities may supplement these messages by applying local threat assessments.

Confirmation been received that a tsunami was generated. No wave heights are available at this time.

The first wave to arrive to New Zealand will be in the areas around North Cape at approximately 0623 12 March 2011. The first wave may arrive later and may not be the largest.

Waves will continue for several hours.

People in coastal areas should:

1. Stay off beaches
2. Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)
3. Do not go sightseeing
4. Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
5. Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates
6. Follow instructions of your local Civil Defence authorities.

MCDEM and scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation to determine the severity of the threat to New Zealand.

10:16pm:  NZ Civil Defence – MCDEM and scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation to determine the severity of the threat to NZ.

10:15pm:  NZ Civil Defence – Only messages issued by Civil Defence (MCDEM) represent the official warning status for New Zealand. 

10:13pm:  NZ Civil Defence – People in coastal areas should: Stay off beaches

10:12pm:  NZ Civil Defence – No land threat is expected at this time

10:10pm:  NZ Civil Defence – A Marine Threat means strong and unusual currents are possible in the sea, rivers and estuaries.

10:08pm: BBC is reporting the tsunami is higher than some Pacific islands and could go right over them according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
 

10:06pm:  Civil Defence is advising people to stay out of, and away from, the water.

10:05pm:  NewstalkZB says about 4 million homes in and around Tokyo are without power.

9:54pm:  NZ Civil Defence: “We’re still working to get www.civildefence.govt.nz back up and running again. We will continue to manually tweet any updates”.  WeatherWatch.co.nz has text and email connections with Civil Defence – and Twitter as back up.  We will bring you updates as soon as we have them.

9:48pm: NZ Civi Defence has commissioned an emergency panel, but has yet to issue a warning.

9:43pm:  NZ Civil Defence website (http://www.civildefence.govt.nz) now back up and running.  Still no warning’s issued by NZ authorities.  A blanket Pacific-wide warning has, however, been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.

9:41pm:  WeatherWatch.co.nz says any risk to New Zealand is most likely to be in our northern and western facing areas.  This is our calculation based purely on the regions that face towards Japan.  Please note this is not a scientific calculation nor is it official.  We’ve made this rough graphic to ensure people in the red coastlines are aware of the threat of possible tsunami in the coming 10 to 12 hours. 

It’s important to note that the NZ Govt’s Civil Defence has not issued a warning as of 9:40pm.

9:29pm:  No tsunami warning by our Govt yet. 

9:28pm: Fox News reports long lines of cars waiting for gas in Hawaii, evacuations already underway.

9:27pm: NEW ZEALAND CIVIL DEFENCE “A tsunami potential threat advisory is still in effect for New Zealand”

“The tsunami advisory will remain in effect until it is upgraded to a national warning or a cancellation message is issued by MCDEM”.

9:24pm: Japan quake’s 8.9 magnitude makes it the 5th-strongest in the world since 1900 according to the USGS

9:23pm: Fox News reports Tsunami sirens now going off in Honolulu.

9:22pm:  Incredible footage of very large fishing ships lying on streets towering over cars and trees

9:21pm:
Still shot from Aljazeera.    Click here for their streaming video

9:20pm: Numerous aftershocks being reported

9:19pm: 8 people confirmed dead in northern Japan according to CNN

9:17pm:  Twitter user @tokyoreporter “If you are trying to call people in Tokyo use (03) numbers. Mobile networks still down.

9:15pm: CNN footage of tsunami roaring across homes, buildings, cars and people in Japan

9:12pm: Raw Video of tsunami hitting

 

9:11pm: Japan’s Prime Minister calls for calm across his shaken nation and tells residents to stay away from the coast.

9:09pm: TVNZ reports 3500 NZers registered as living in Japan.

9:03pm: Civil Defence – “We are aware of the problem with www.civildefence.govt.nz and are working to get it back up as soon as possible”.  Please note WeatherWatch.co.nz has texts and emails directly from Civil Defence despite their website being down.  Check here for updates this evening.

8:55pm: Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issues Tsunami Warning for New Zealand – Civil Defence is our authority though and have not issued one as of yet.

8:52pm: NZ Expert on Aljazeera says NZ should not be badly affected by tsunami, but could be 1 metre.  Stay away from beaches until further notice. 

8:46pm:

8:43pm:
Still image taken from Aljazeera

8:41pm:  Earthquake revised up to 8.9

8:40pm: Tsunami warnings issued as far away as Peru and Chile.

8:39pm:  Aljazeera reporting one death from a collapsed building in northern Japan.

8:37pm: Tony Hurst, duty officer for GNS science here in New Zealand says there was a potential threat of a tsunami reaching New Zealand but it would be 10 hours away and was unlikely to be significant.

8pm:  A tsunami potential threat advisory is in effect for New Zealand:  The advisory will remain in effect until it is upgraded to a national warning or a cancellation message is issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).