On Wednesday, parts of eastern Australia experienced brief panic after the Bureau of Meteorology accidentally sent out a tsunami warning to thousands of residents. The alert, issued around 11:30 a.m., warned of a potential tsunami caused by an 8.2 magnitude earthquake off the west coast of New Zealand.
The warning reached people along the New South Wales and Queensland coast, as well as inland areas as far as Canberra, which is located 125 kilometers from the nearest beach. Shortly after the initial alert, a second message was sent, informing users that the tsunami warning had been canceled. The Bureau clarified that the previous message was part of a test, though many app users reported not being notified in advance about the planned drill.
In response to the confusion, a spokesperson from the Bureau of Meteorology apologized, explaining that the test was part of a transition to new tsunami early warning system software. The spokesperson reassured the public, stating, "There is NO tsunami threat to Australia," and emphasized the importance of such tests to ensure preparedness for real tsunami threats.
The Bureau, which is part of the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC), is responsible for detecting and monitoring any potential tsunami risks to Australia's coastline and offshore territories. Despite the false alarm, the Bureau emphasized that it remains committed to providing accurate tsunami warnings for the country.
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