In New Zealand, where earthquakes are common, Civil Defence regularly holds practice drills for coastal residents so they know how to react in an emergency.
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East Coast Civil Defence bosses are happy with the way many people looked after themselves during the tsunami warning, but warn those who stayed put were risking others.
Twitter users in the North Island reported being woken up by shaking.
After the train reopened, people have been advised there would be delays. Should they feel another long or strong quake, they should again head for higher ground or as far inland as possible.
“We’re confident in our processes and acted as we should have done”, she said.
Pat Seymour, a local council politician in the Gisborne area, told the New Zealand Herald the quake was “quite vigorous”.
An initial “potential” warning was raised to a Tsunami after a wave measuring 30cm was generated near the East Cape about 90 minutes after the quake struck on Friday morning. However, there are no immediate reports of serious damage, reports BBC.
Gisborne District Council emergency manager Louise Bennett said Civil Defence community link personnel spoken to in Te Araroa and Tolaga Bay described it as “a minor shake”.
The quake also sent residents in the East Cape fleeing to higher ground, while Auckland’s central train station, Britomart, closed temporarily as a precaution, causing delays in the morning commute.
The agency warned people in the affected area “should expect aftershocks and do not forget to drop, cover and hold”.
“It was one of the freakiest ones I’ve ever felt”.
Very recently, a tsunami warning has been issued and evacuations are in the process, according to The Journal.
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Eastland Network says the outages were near Rototahi and Waimata but power has since been restored to the 300 affected homes.
