Next tsunami could be killer

THE Terranora founder of the Early Warning Network says anyone who dismissed Sunday’s tsunami alert was “bloody stupid”.

Kerry Plowright, whose phone alert system notified thousands of Australians on the east coast of the tsunami warning at the weekend, said curious Tweed residents who went to inspect the beach at the estimated time of impact could have put their lives at risk.

“It was really silly behaviour from them,” Mr Plowright said.

“It may have been a non-event, but the next time it comes back it may be a six or seven-foot high wave.”

“No-one should have been making assumptions on it.”

Mr Plowright said he understood the curiosity surrounding the potential disaster, but it did not excuse recklessness.

“The only time people will wake up to the threat is when someone dies,” he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology said on Sunday sea-level observations, including a 20cm rise on the Gold Coast, confirmed a tsunami had been generated.

The tsunami was triggered by a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile on Saturday.

More than 700 people are dead with the toll expected to rise.