Tsunami in New Zealand: 11m waves batter Wellington coast

Hundreds of residents were forced to leave their coastal homes in New Zealand’s capital on Tuesday as powerful waves, reaching heights of up to 11 meters (36 feet), battered the shoreline. The severe conditions prompted authorities to take emergency action amid concerns over the dangerous Tsunami in New Zealand-like coastal surge and extreme weather impacts.

Powerful tsunami hits Wellington’s coast

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little declared a local state of emergency ahead of the expected swells, covering vulnerable coastal communities including Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay, and Breaker Bay.

Officials urged residents to evacuate immediately and avoid the southern coastline, warning that emergency services would be unable to assist anyone who chose to remain in the danger zone.

The evacuation order came into effect Tuesday morning, with police helping enforce the directive. Roadblocks and cordons were established around affected areas to prevent sightseers and residents from approaching the hazardous coastline.

Local authorities noted that a similar storm event in 2021 caused significant damage to homes in Breaker Bay, although wave heights during that incident peaked at around 6.5 meters.

This week's event proved considerably more severe, with New Zealand’s MetService recording waves as high as 11 meters entering Wellington Harbour.

Strong winds compounded the danger. In Island Bay, gusts and surging seawater swept across coastal roads, reportedly knocking two women off their feet. The combination of high seas and powerful winds created hazardous conditions throughout the region.

Transportation was also affected. Several flights at Wellington Airport were canceled as wind gusts reached 128 kilometers per hour (80 mph).

The extreme weather even caused a parked aircraft belonging to regional carrier Golden Bay Air to tip onto its side while unattended on the tarmac.

According to airline chief Richard Molloy, firefighters secured the aircraft to prevent further damage. Authorities continue to monitor coastal conditions closely as residents await improvements in weather and sea conditions following the dramatic Tsunami in New Zealand coastal event.