In the event of a tsunami, Wellingtonians would have just minutes to escape to safety - and with no tsunami sirens in the area, many might not know the danger until it's too late.
That's why a new app has been launched to show residents the quickest routes to safety, in case an earthquake did cause a tidal wave.
Tsunami Ready, a pro-bono project from digital agency Alphero, is being trialled in Wellington before it's rolled out across New Zealand.
The app shows users the quickest route to a safe zone from their frequented locations such as home, or work. By entering their often used addresses, users can see whether they would be safe in the event of a tsunami or if they would have to flee.
With no sirens, and data modelling estimating a wave could hit the city just eight minutes after a significant earthquake, the app could be the best chance Wellingtonians have to find safety.
Users are encouraged to familiarise themselves with their escape route, as it's possible the only warning there would be for a wave would be the quake itself.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) advice recommends anyone in New Zealand be familiar with the warning signs of a tsunami - firstly any earthquake that lasts longer than a minute, or makes it difficult to stand. A change in sea levels, or a strange noise from the ocean could also indicate a tsunami is imminent.
