By Adrien Taylor
Christchurch's new tsunami warning system had its first test this morning, but many seaside residents say it's not up to scratch.
Twenty-two sirens have been placed along the coastline from Waimairi Beach to Sumner, and residents say they're too quiet.
About 19,000 people died in Japan last year when a tsunami submerged coastal regions with phenomenal force.
That event, and our own seismic events in Canterbury, serve as reminders of the importance of early tsunami warning systems near our own shores.
This morning at 11am, 22 sirens placed around Christchurch were tested for the first time.
“We all have to know what they sound like in the real world, and let's hope we never have to use them,” says Christchurch mayor Bob Parker.
But many residents say they still don't know what the sirens sound like.
“I think it is awesome having the sirens in place, but they're really quiet, and on a busy day at pre-school we wouldn't hear them,” says New Brighton Community Preschool and Nursery manager Paula Robinson.
But Civil Defence says the sirens are designed to only be heard near the shore, and they shouldn't be loud enough to cause hearing damage.
“Once they're activated it means clear out and move out, evacuate the area a safe distance back from the sea,” says Civil Defence manager Murray Sinclair.
If the sirens sound for more than 10 minutes, it means it's not a drill but the real thing.
3 News