A massive exercise simulating a tsunami hitting the coasts of Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania has illustrated the potential damage that low-lying areas could suffer.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre co-ordinated a major tsunami preparedness exercise last week that involved federal and state agencies and emergency responders.

The exercise simulated a tsunami hitting the three states’ coasts following a theoretical earthquake off the Solomon Islands.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre uses the resources of the Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia to monitor for tsunami threats.

Fifty potential tsunami-generating earthquakes are detected every year, and Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Dr Jonathan Bathgate says the impact of a tsunami hitting the low-lying areas on the Australian coast “could be significant”.

The agencies involved in the exercise included the Australian Defence Force, Airservices Australia, Airservices Australia, Australian Antarctic Division, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Bureau of Meteorology, Department of Home Affairs, Emergency Management Norfolk Island, Geoscience Australia, NSW State Emergency Service, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Surf Life Saving New South Wales, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Surf Life Saving Tasmania, Tasmania State Emergency Service, and Victoria State Emergency Service.