Why Australia needs to prepare for the worst: Expert's chilling 'perfect storm' tsunami warning with fears a monster earthquake could trigger waves big enough to level entire cities

  • US expert said that Australia is not immune to the threat of tsunami waves
  • The country could be impacted by a major event on Tonga-Kermadec Ridge 
  • The  seismology researcher warns that NZ is at risk of being struck by a tsunami
  • NZ situated close to significant geological fault lines which pose a constant risk
  • Mr Crowell believes waves have a potential to reach several kilometres inland 
  • Effect of tsunami could be as bad as those seen in Japan and Indonesia

By Sophie Tanno For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:23 EDT, 1 November 2018 | Updated: 22:30 EDT, 1 November 2018

An expert has warned Australia is at risk of being struck by a tsunami.

The eastern coast of the country could be struck by waves caused by a major event along the Tonga-Kermadec plate boundary, or by an earthquake in Indonesia. 

Brendan Crowell, Research Scientist at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. said that past tsunamis in Japan demonstrate that waves can reach significantly far inland.

The expert also warned that New Zealand is at risk of being struck by a potentially-devastating tsunami due to the country's frequent seismic activity.

The warning comes following a strong but deep 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Tuesday morning.

Scientific evidence suggests that Australia has a history of tsunami strikes, the most recent being over 500 years ago in 1491  (artist's impression)

Scientific evidence suggests that Australia has a history of tsunami strikes, the most recent being over 500 years ago in 1491  (artist's impression)

A US expert warns that New Zealand is at risk of being struck by a potentially-devastating tsunami (pictured: Tsunami flood evacuation route road sign in Napier, New Zealand)

A US expert warns that New Zealand is at risk of being struck by a potentially-devastating tsunami (pictured: Tsunami flood evacuation route road sign in Napier, New Zealand)

A strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit much of New Zealand on Tuesday morning

A strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit much of New Zealand on Tuesday morning

The expert believes that while the likelihood is reduced in comparison to New Zealand, Australia is not immune from being impacted by tsunami waves.

Tsunami propagation models suggest a major event along the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone would impact the eastern coast of Australia.

He also said that Australia is at risk of tsunamis generated to the north in Indonesia. 

Scientific evidence suggests that Australia has a history of tsunami strikes, the most recent being over 500 years ago in 1491. 

Tsunami waves from a huge 1960 Chilean earthquake were recorded in Sydney. 

In particular, wave heights up to 84cm were recorded at the Fort Denison tide gauge in Sydney Harbour.

On March 11, 2011, the magnitude-9 Tohoku earthquake struck northeastern Japan, and triggered a devastating tsunami reaching 10km inland to the Japanese city of Sendai.

Mr Crowell is currently attending a UNESCO IOC meeting to understand the hazards and risks of the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone and how it pertains to Pacific-wide risks. 

Of particular interest to Mr Crowell is the land lying in proximity of the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone, a plate boundary which stretches north from New Zealand's North Island.

On March 11, 2011, the magnitude-9 Tohoku earthquake struck northeastern Japan, and triggered a devastating tsunami reaching 10 km inland to the Japanese city of Sendai

On March 11, 2011, the magnitude-9 Tohoku earthquake struck northeastern Japan, and triggered a devastating tsunami reaching 10 km inland to the Japanese city of Sendai

Of particular interest to Mr Crowell is the land lying in proximity of the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone, a plate boundary which stretches north from New Zealand's North Island (pictured: Tauranga, North Island, NZ)

Of particular interest to Mr Crowell is the land lying in proximity of the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone, a plate boundary which stretches north from New Zealand's North Island (pictured: Tauranga, North Island, NZ)

'New Zealand is at risk for a large earthquake and tsunami since they are right near a major fault system, the Hikurangi subduction zone which leads into the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone,' Mr Crowell told Daily Mail Australia. 

'There are also significant faults in the interior of the south island, the Alpine Fault for example, that can cause damage as well.'

The Alpine Fault is a geological fault which forms a horizontal plate boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate. 

Four major ruptures along the Alpine Fault have over the last 1000 years have caused monstrous magnitude-8 earthquakes. 

According to Mr Crowell, there is 'always a probability' that an event can occur along these fault lines and Kiwis should definitely prepare for the worst.

'New Zealanders should absolutely be prepared for the earthquake and tsunami hazards since the subduction zone can create earthquakes and tsunamis equivalent in size to the recent Tohoku or Sumatra earthquakes,' he said.  

The expert believes that while the likelihood is reduced in comparison to New Zealand, Australia is not immune from being impacted by tsunami waves.

Tsunami propagation models suggest a major event along the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone would impact the eastern coast of Australia.

He also said that Australia is at risk of tsunamis generated to the north in Indonesia.   

The Alpine Fault is a geological fault which forms a horizontal plate boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate

The Alpine Fault is a geological fault which forms a horizontal plate boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate

 

 

  

 

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