Tsunami warning closes school

 

Mangawhai Beach School (MBS) was closed and the Village was eerily quiet following a Civil Defence tsunami warning on the morning of September 2, following the 7.1 East Cape earthquake.

People across the nation including Northland, Auckland and Canterbury reported feeling the tremors which struck at 4.37am and produced waves of 30cm around the Cape and Great Barrier Island.

MBS principal Aaron Kemp says the school was notified by Civil Defense early in the morning and advised the school be closed due to its close proximity to the Mangawhai Harbour.

“It’s always better to urge on the side of caution,” Kemp says. “Especially if there are ongoing aftershocks that may cause further surges… not much point opening the school then having to send students home again.”

Parents and students were informed of the school’s closure by the MBS Facebook, teacher’s emails and text alerts.

By 8.30am Civil Defence lifted the tsunami warning but cautioned strong surges and currents were still anticipated. Aftershocks were still being felt in the East Cape around midday, with magnitudes up to 3.1 on the Richter scale.

- REPORTING/Julia Wade