8.2 magnitude earthquake test warning mistakenly sent to Australians by BOM, causing confusion and panic.

On September 25, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) in Australia mistakenly sent a tsunami warning to residents, stating an 8.2 magnitude earthquake occurred off New Zealand's coast. The alert, part of a test for a new early warning system, caused confusion and panic. BOM quickly clarified it was a test and assured the public there was no tsunami threat, issuing an apology for the misunderstanding and emphasizing the importance of such testing for future preparedness.