3 Apr 2014

Small surge at Gisborne

12:14 pm on 3 April 2014

Gisborne District Council says a small surge triggered by the magnitude 8.2 quake in Chile was recorded at the port at about 1am on Thursday.

Emergency management manager, Richard Steele said a small negative surge, which takes water away from the shore, was recorded about 1am.

Mr Steele said the earthquake was big, so it is not unexpected to see surges coming across the Pacific Ocean.

GNS duty seismologist Lara Bland said the tsunamis reached about 20cm along the North and South Islands.

The largest surge was in the Chatam Islands - about 0.5 metres.