The Australian Bureau of Meteorology says Tasmania, Victoria and NSW could be hit by dangerous waves on Wednesday evening following the quake off the southwest coast of New Zealand's South Island at 7.22pm (AEST).The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre is warning of dangerous waves from Gabo Island north to Seal Rocks, including Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay. Although evacuations are not required, the centre warns people to move away from the immediate water's edge and not go to the beaches to look at the waves.
Lord Howe Island is facing a more serious threat of major land inundation and residents are urged to go to higher ground or at least one kilometre inland.
The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre said a tsunami has been observed at Port Kembla at 10:06pm.
Earlier this evening, a Bureau of Meteorology said it remained a possibility waves could develop and hit Australia's coast. "It's quite rare that this would happen. At the moment no waves have been recorded but an alert has been issued for NSW and large parts of the east coast,'' she told AAP. "We're continuing to monitor and update the situation.''
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said any waves would strike Lord Howe Island between 9.30pm Wednesday and midnight. (Sydney Morning Herald)
