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An entire municipality in Tokomaru Bay on the east coast can now return to their homes after they were evacuated after two major earthquakes on Friday morning.
Hundreds of people watched from above how large waves of water entered the bay throughout the day.
At 1:26 p.m., the tsunami threat to the north of Tolaga Bay was lifted and everyone was able to return to their homes safely.
Supplied
A change in the color of the water indicates a large increase in Tokomaru Bay on Friday morning.
The Gisborne District Council and the Tairāwhiti Civil Defense advised people to stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boats), to stay away from beaches and coastal areas, and not to go sightseeing.
Resident Chris Beard, along with hundreds of others, witnessed a sudden “shadow difference” in the water approaching the bay when the storm surge hit.
At least 150 people sat on the hill above the township “baking” in the 32-degree heat, with little shade.
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Another resident, Ivan Lomax, was evacuating on the other side of the hill, near the Tokomaru Bay pier.
“We are in a house about 60 or 70 meters above the dock. We didn’t actually see the increase coming, but we started getting all these ‘are you okay?’ Messages. With photos and videos, ”he said.
SUPPLIED
Big swell reaching Tokomaru Bay.
Lomax said he evacuated after the first earthquake near Te Araroa around 2.30 am, before returning home shortly after. He evacuated again after the Kermadec earthquake around 8:30 am and did not know when they would be able to return home.
Gina Chaffey-Aupouri has lived in Tokomaru Bay for the past 60 years and said she had never experienced anything like it.
“I went out this morning and the sea was so calm and quiet. But it is good that all Tokomaru has emerged. “
“This is the first time I have seen a sudden increase. They have happened about three times since the evacuation. First you see the sea and its stillness, then it begins to turn and go in all different directions. “
Chaffey-Aupouri said the waves were arriving around Mawhai Point and hitting near the pier.
She estimated that at least 150 people were on the hill. Some were sitting on deckchairs, others under umbrellas, while a local handed out fresh peaches to others sitting in the sun.
“It’s great to see all of our tamariki here. We are a close community and everyone takes care of each other, ”said Chaffey-Aupouri.
At 2.27 am on Friday, a 7.1 earthquake struck 105 kilometers east of Te Araroa.
After that, two significant earthquakes struck near the Kermadec Islands: a 7.4 magnitude earthquake at 6.41 a.m. and a 8.1 magnitude earthquake around 8.28 a.m.
