As a tsunami wave threatens to roll in over Australia’s east coast residents have been told to avoid one behaviour.
East coast Australians have been warned to avoid the beach on Sunday as officials worry over the possible threat of a tsunami wave.
The NSW State Emergency Service told people to not go swimming or drive down to the beach to have a look.
“I know a lot of people will be disappointed and it’s going to be a very humid day, and the Australian way is to get down to the beach,” an SES official told reporters on Sunday morning.
“But to protect this community, the beaches are closed and surf lifesaving have removed the flags, and we’re making sure that people don’t go into the water.”
The official said a rock fisherman had to be rescued earlier in the day.
Beaches were expected to stay closed at least until about 4pm.
“In past tsunami warnings we’ve had people who get into their vehicles and go down to the beach — that’s exactly the wrong thing to do,” the SES official said.
“We need to have the roads as clear as possible … once that wave comes, if it does come, it’s very vital and very urgent to get people away from those areas.”
The warning comes after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai volcano erupted off Tonga on Saturday afternoon.
Victorian authorities also issued a marine warning for the state’s east, from Lakes Entrance to the East Gippsland coast.
In Queensland there were warnings for a huge stretch from Sandy Cape to Point Danger including the Fraser Island coast, Sunshine Coast waters, Moreton Bay and Gold Coast waters.
More to come
Originally published as ‘Wrong thing to do’: Authorities warn Australians to avoid the beach as tsunami threat looms
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