If you received a tsunami warning from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) app that has started to make you panic, don’t worry. It was a test!
At around 11am on Wednesday, an alert for a tsunami was sent out to Australian users with the BoM app following a supposed 8.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of New Zealand. Naturally, users were freaked the fuck out by the warning. But it turns out that the earthquake wasn’t real and the BoM were just testing out a new early warning system.
Although the BoM announced the incoming test on X (formerly Twitter) before sending out the alert, it was still a bit of a shocking surprise for the many, many users who don’t keep close tabs on a meteorology body’s social media.
As you’d expect, punters who received unusual tsunami warnings took to social media with surprise, worry and shock.
Shortly after, the BoM took to X again to confirm it was just a test — and not an actual tsunami — in a statement.
“There is no tsunami threat to Australia,” the organisation wrote.
“The Bureau of Meteorology issued test verification posts on the BOM App between 11AM-12PM AEST on Wednesday 25 September 2024 as part of the transition to the new tsunami early warning system software.”
Although Aussies are pretty relieved that we’re not in for an actual tsunami, some people have criticised the BoM for not making it clearer that this alert was a fictional test all along. And tbh I think they’ve got a point.
The post The BoM Freaked Out Mass Aussies By Sending Out A Fictional Tsunami Warning As A Test appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
