the inhabitants “have not lost the good reflexes”, welcomes the director of civil security on the spot

“People in New Caledonia are acculturated to the tsunami risk”, told the Radio France agency on Friday May 19, Frédéric Marchi-Leccia, director of civil security and risk management in New Caledonia after the tsunami alert triggered earlier in the archipelago (2 p.m. local time) . The coast had to be evacuated, the anti-tsunami sirens also sounded on the coasts to call on the population to evacuate.

>> New Caledonia: a magnitude 7.7 earthquake recorded in the south-east of the territory, the tsunami alert lifted

This alert came after a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 off the archipelago. The alert is now lifted, there is no longer any danger on the spot. Civil security reports that residents have been able to resume their activities and that there are no casualties or damage.

Faced with this situation, Frédéric Marchi-Leccia welcomes the good reflexes of the inhabitants who have “reacted well, followed the instructions and took shelter”. The director says to himself “almost happy” that “this life-size exercise could have taken place” and explains why:The last time we had a similar situation was in March 2021″.

“So we’re going to take it as a booster shot”

Frédéric Marchi-Leccia, director of civil security in New Caledonia

at franceinfo

“In any case, people have not lost their reflexes and I would like to congratulate them. Everyone played the game”. According to him, if this alert had been more serious and a larger wave had formed, “People would have been safe and that’s the very positive thing to remember”.

Asked whether this type of event is rare in New Caledonia, he answers: “Rare no because the archipelago is in the ring of fire [du Pacifique]there is therefore an almost permanent seismic activity but it is not always likely to cause a tsunami”. Now that the alert is lifted and the danger averted, “the duty officer will resume his watch as he does 24 hours a day, 365 days a year”.