(CNN) -- A 7.1-magnitude earthquake rattled the Solomon Islands on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
There were no immediate reports of a tsunami.
The quake comes two days after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck the same region, triggering a tsunami that killed five people but didn't threaten the wider region.
Four elderly people and one child died after a roughly 1-meter (3-foot) wave hit the Santa Cruz Islands, an eastern region of the Solomon Islands, said Augustine Bilve, a director at a hospital in Lata, the main town in the area.
- CNN
Showing posts with label Tsunami. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tsunami. Show all posts
Friday, 8 February 2013
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Tsunami highlights small island vulnerability
BANGKOK, 6 February, 2013 - At least five people are reported to have died in a tsunami which struck a remote part of the Solomon Islands earlier today.
More than 5,000 people could have been seriously affected by the one meter wave that hit the town of Lata on Santa Cruz island swamping some villages and the town’s main airport but early warning systems worked and most people had fled the town for higher ground.
Initial information provided by OCHA suggests that the tsunami wave travelled 500 meters inland and flattened many traditional houses but the extent of the damage is still unknown especially in remote areas which may not have received the alert.
Some fifty people died in 2007 when the Solomon Islands was last hit by a tsunami following an 8.1 magnitude quake.
A tsunami warning was issued earlier today by The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) within four minutes of the earthquake and covered the Solomon Islands and many other surrounding islands such as Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis and Futuna. The regional warning was cancelled 2.5 hours later.
In New Zealand, tsunami sirens were set off late in the afternoon, and people in coastal areas were being told to stay off beaches and out of the sea, rivers and estuaries. The Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami threat to Australia however a tsunami watch was issued for Australia, New Zealand, and all the way to Indonesia.
More than 500,000 people are living in Solomon Islands which forms part of the Ring of Fire, a zone of tectonic activity around the Pacific Ocean that is subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
“This lastest disaster event underlines the vulnerability of all these small low-lying islands to sea level rise. Many islands such as Vanuatu and Kiribati are already suffering from recurrent flooding. More action needs to be taken at the international level to increase their capacities to deal with what is now seen as inevitable,” said Jerry Velasquez from the UN office of Disaster Risk Reduction.
Representatives of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) will be attending the next Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in May in Geneva and will try again to convince the international community to take action before their Third International Conference on SIDS next year in Samoa.
- ReliefWeb
More than 5,000 people could have been seriously affected by the one meter wave that hit the town of Lata on Santa Cruz island swamping some villages and the town’s main airport but early warning systems worked and most people had fled the town for higher ground.
Initial information provided by OCHA suggests that the tsunami wave travelled 500 meters inland and flattened many traditional houses but the extent of the damage is still unknown especially in remote areas which may not have received the alert.
Some fifty people died in 2007 when the Solomon Islands was last hit by a tsunami following an 8.1 magnitude quake.
A tsunami warning was issued earlier today by The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) within four minutes of the earthquake and covered the Solomon Islands and many other surrounding islands such as Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis and Futuna. The regional warning was cancelled 2.5 hours later.
In New Zealand, tsunami sirens were set off late in the afternoon, and people in coastal areas were being told to stay off beaches and out of the sea, rivers and estuaries. The Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami threat to Australia however a tsunami watch was issued for Australia, New Zealand, and all the way to Indonesia.
More than 500,000 people are living in Solomon Islands which forms part of the Ring of Fire, a zone of tectonic activity around the Pacific Ocean that is subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
“This lastest disaster event underlines the vulnerability of all these small low-lying islands to sea level rise. Many islands such as Vanuatu and Kiribati are already suffering from recurrent flooding. More action needs to be taken at the international level to increase their capacities to deal with what is now seen as inevitable,” said Jerry Velasquez from the UN office of Disaster Risk Reduction.
Representatives of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) will be attending the next Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in May in Geneva and will try again to convince the international community to take action before their Third International Conference on SIDS next year in Samoa.
- ReliefWeb
Solomon Islands: Earthquake and Tsunami - Feb 2013
An 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Santa Cruz Islands in the southeast Solomon Islands archipelago on 6 Feb 2013. Initial information suggests that a tsunami wave traveled 500 meters inland. 431 houses have been damaged or destroyed in Temotu Province, leaving 3,500 people displaced. (OCHA, 07 Feb 2013)
- ReliefWeb
Update: Santa Cruz Islands (Solomon Islands) earthquake 2013: Tsunami kills 6
The Earthquake and Tsunami in Santa Cruz Islands (Solomon Islands) has killed 6 people and collapsed more than 100 houses in Lata. Three people are still reported to be missing.
Due to the remoteness of the natural disaster area, it is difficult for Solomon Islands government and relief agencies to get detailed reports of the damage.
The Solomon Islands sit above the collision between the Australia and Pacific plates.
This earthquake is the second-largest earthquake in the Solomon Islands region in almost 40 years.
- Natural Disasters
Due to the remoteness of the natural disaster area, it is difficult for Solomon Islands government and relief agencies to get detailed reports of the damage.
The Solomon Islands sit above the collision between the Australia and Pacific plates.
This earthquake is the second-largest earthquake in the Solomon Islands region in almost 40 years.
- Natural Disasters
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Image: Earthquake and Tsunami Damage Solomon Islands
Disaster Report - First photo of disaster in Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands. Tsunami in Solomon Islands has destroyed more than 50 houses.
DR: It is just the preliminary report obtained from locals in Solomon.
We have currently no report of injured people.
Several houses reported to be flooded in eastern Temotu province of Solomon Islands.
- Solomon Times
PUBLIC TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT NUMBER 3 NWS WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER PALMER AK
721 PM PST TUE FEB 5 2013
THIS IS THE FINAL INFORMATION STATEMENT FOR THIS EVENT.
...THIS IS A TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT FOR ALASKA/ BRITISH
COLUMBIA/ WASHINGTON/ OREGON AND CALIFORNIA...
EVALUATION
----------
* NO TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS FOR THE AREAS LISTED ABOVE.
* SOME OF THE AREAS LISTED ABOVE MAY EXPERIENCE NON-DAMAGING
SEA LEVEL CHANGES.
* SEA LEVEL OBSERVATIONS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED.
PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
---------------------------------
* MAGNITUDE 8.0
* ORIGIN TIME 1613 AKST FEB 05 2013
1713 PST FEB 05 2013
0113 UTC FEB 06 2013
* COORDINATES 10.9 SOUTH 165.1 EAST
* DEPTH 21 MILES
* LOCATION SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
OBSERVATIONS OF TSUNAMI ACTIVITY - UPDATED
------------------------------------------
TIME OBSERVED MAX
SITE OF MEASUREMENT TSUNAMI HEIGHT
---------------------------- --------------- --------------
LATA WHARF SOLOMON ISL 0131 UTC 02-06 03.4FT
DART52406PT NE GUADALCA 0211 UTC 02-06 00.3FT
DART55012ST SE CORAL SE 0232 UTC 02-06 00.4FT
HONIARA SOLOMON ISLAND 0307 UTC 02-06 00.2FT
PORT VILA VANUATU 0303 UTC 02-06 00.6FT
HEIGHT - OBSERVED MAX TSUNAMI HEIGHT IS THE WATER LEVEL ABOVE THE
TIDE LEVEL AT THE TIME OF MEASUREMENT.
NEXT UPDATE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------
* THIS WILL BE THE FINAL WCATWC MESSAGE FOR THIS EVENT
UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
* REFER TO THE INTERNET SITE WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
* PACIFIC COASTAL REGIONS OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA... OREGON...
WASHINGTON... BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA SHOULD REFER TO THE
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER MESSAGES AT PTWC.WEATHER.GOV.
- NOAA
Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre cancelled tsunami warning for......
Update 05:50 UTC - Finally a relief!
THE TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER IS NOW CANCELLED FOR
SOLOMON ISLANDS / VANUATU / NAURU / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / TUVALU /
NEW CALEDONIA / KOSRAE / FIJI / KIRIBATI / WALLIS AND FUTUNA
Quake off Solomon Islands triggers tsunami
A small tsunami hit the eastern Solomon Islands after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake that triggered tsunami warnings for several Pacific nations.
The quake struck at 01:12 GMT near the Santa Cruz islands, part of the Solomon Islands nation, the US Geological Survey said.
A tsunami measuring 0.9m (3ft) subsequently hit Lata in the far eastern Solomons.
The centre said the tsunami could be destructive near the epicentre.
"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated," the Hawaii-based centre said.
"It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre and could also be a threat to more distant coasts."
Initial reports by the USGS said the quake had a shallow depth of 5.8km (3.6 miles) but it later revised the figure to 28.7km (17.8 miles).
The tsunami warning was issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, and Wallis and Futuna islands.
A tsunami watch was issued for other nations in the South Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. However, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology later said Australia was not at risk from a tsunami.
France issued a tsunami warning for its New Caledonia territory, saying that the wave could strike at about 03:00 GMT. Residents near the coast were being advised to evacuate.
Irene Scott, a reporter with Paoa FM on the Solomon Islands, told the BBC there were reports of houses being inundated in eastern Temotu province, but no serious damage or injuries.
The Solomon Islands form part of the Ring Of Fire, a zone of volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches encircling the Pacific basin.
The 8.0 earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, the largest measuring 6.6 magnitude.
The region has been experiencing a series of smaller quakes in recent days.
In 2007 an 8.1 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed at least 52 people in the Solomons and left thousands homeless.
-BBC
Powerful quake in South Pacific triggers 3-foot tsunami
A 3-foot tsunami was generated after a strong earthquake shook the islands in the South Pacific, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake -- with a preliminary magnitude of 8.0 -- struck Wednesday in the Santa Cruz Islands at a depth of about 3 miles. The Santa Cruz Islands are scarcely populated and are part of the Solomon Islands.
A magnitude 6.4 aftershock occurred shortly after the first rumble, followed by a 6.6 one later. USGS officials said that was "not at all surprising."
Hotel workers on Vanuatu said they felt the earthquake but have not heard of any damage or injuries. An employee who can see the coast from a hotel said he had not noticed any water coming in.
The tsunami warning was in effect for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis and Futana. A tsunami watch was in effect for Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and Guam.
- NBCNews.com
The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake -- with a preliminary magnitude of 8.0 -- struck Wednesday in the Santa Cruz Islands at a depth of about 3 miles. The Santa Cruz Islands are scarcely populated and are part of the Solomon Islands.
A magnitude 6.4 aftershock occurred shortly after the first rumble, followed by a 6.6 one later. USGS officials said that was "not at all surprising."
Hotel workers on Vanuatu said they felt the earthquake but have not heard of any damage or injuries. An employee who can see the coast from a hotel said he had not noticed any water coming in.
The tsunami warning was in effect for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis and Futana. A tsunami watch was in effect for Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and Guam.
- NBCNews.com
M8.0 - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS 2013-02-06 01:12:27 UTC
Summary
Location and Magnitude contributed by: USGS, NEIC, Golden, Colorado (and predecessors)
Event Time
- 2013-02-06 01:12:27 UTC
- 2013-02-06 03:12:27 UTC+02:00 system time
Location
10.738°S 165.138°E depth=28.7km (17.8mi)Friday, 23 November 2012
US city building tsunami resistant port
Crescent City - Town leaders in the Northern California commercial fishing village of Crescent City hope last year's tsunami is among the last of many that forced major repairs.
They're spending $54m to build the West Coast's first harbour able to withstand the kind of tsunami expected to hit once every 50 years - the same kind that hit in 2011 after the massive Japanese earthquake. It sank 11 boats, damaged 47 others and destroyed two-thirds of the harbour’s docks.
Since a tidal gauge was installed in the boat basin in 1934, the small port has been hit by 34 tsunamis, large and small. It typically suffers the most damage and the highest waves on the West Coast.
The improvements include 244 new steel pilings and a dock to dampen incoming waves.
- AP/News24
They're spending $54m to build the West Coast's first harbour able to withstand the kind of tsunami expected to hit once every 50 years - the same kind that hit in 2011 after the massive Japanese earthquake. It sank 11 boats, damaged 47 others and destroyed two-thirds of the harbour’s docks.
Since a tidal gauge was installed in the boat basin in 1934, the small port has been hit by 34 tsunamis, large and small. It typically suffers the most damage and the highest waves on the West Coast.
The improvements include 244 new steel pilings and a dock to dampen incoming waves.
- AP/News24
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Guatemala earthquake: Dozens killed, says Perez Molina
At least 48 people have been killed and many more are missing after a 7.4-magnitude quake hit off Guatemala's Pacific coast, the president has said.
Otto Perez Molina declared a national alert and advised people to evacuate tall buildings as a precaution.
Officials said landslides had buried roads and it would take 24 hours to restore links to the quake-hit area.
Frightened people fled from offices and homes around the region, as buildings shook from Mexico City to San Salvador.
The energy ministry said about 73,000 people have been left without electricity.
Quake officials said the tremor hit at about 10:35 local time (16:35 GMT) about 23km (15 miles) from the Guatemalan town of Champerico.
'Tragedy'
The director of Guatemala's Seismological Institute, Eddy Sanchez, said it had been the biggest tremor in Guatemala since 1976, when 25,000 people died in 7.5-magnitude quake.
There have been dozens of aftershocks to Wednesday's quake, four of them over a magnitude of 5.
President Perez Molina has given several news conferences, each time raising the number of casualties.
Touring the affected area, he said 40 deaths had been confirmed in San Marcos province and another eight in neighbouring Quetzaltenango.
He said many more people were still missing and 153 were being housed in emergency shelters.
Speaking in the town of San Marcos, he said: "It's very sad to meet people here who are waiting to find their families who are still buried.
"It's really a tragedy and we will do all we can to help the families that are suffering."
The national voluntary fire service gave details on its Twitter feed of the damage across the San Marcos region, describing how firefighters had pulled five bodies from the rubble, including that of an 11-year-old boy.
In the town of San Cristobal Cucho, 10 members of one family were killed when their house collapsed.
Fourteen houses have been destroyed in the city of Quetzaltenango, which houses dozens of language schools popular with tourists.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement there was no threat of a destructive widespread tsunami.
But it added: "Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a hundred kilometres of the earthquake epicentre."
Panama, El Salvador and Honduras have offered their help with the rescue operation.
- BBC
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Hawaii Hams Activate for Tsunami Warning
On Saturday, October 27, radio amateurs in Hawaii responded to a tsunami warning, providing valuable and timely information to emergency management officials. The tsunami was triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake which struck at struck at 5:04 PM HST (0304 UTC on Sunday, October 28) in the Queen Charlotte Islands, located off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.
At 7:14 PM*, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) sent out a tsunami warning and said that the tsunami had an estimated wave arrival time of 10:28 PM. After being notified, Hawaii State Civil Defense RACES Coordinator Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, began notifying Oahu leaders via cell phone while ARRL Hawaii Section Emergency Coordinator Kevin Bogan, AH6QO, began activating the ARES Emergency Coordinators on each island.
“The initial telephone alert process took 12 minutes and radio operators continued the coordination and activation while driving to the Emergency Operations Centers and points of operation,” Hashiro told the ARRL. “Chuck Oh, N6NCT, on Oahu activated the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) RACES organization and eight hams responded to the Oahu EOC. Tom Geier, KH6BLA, served as net control on the DEM net on the 146.88 MHz repeater with 35 hams checking in. Clem Jung, KH7HO, and Rick Kimitsuka, KH6OM, led eight hams in DEM District IV -- along the Windward Coast of Oahu -- and operated on the 146.66 MHz Olomana and 146.64 Laie repeaters and simplex frequencies.”
According to Hashiro, Mel Fukunaga, KH6H, went to the Maui EOC, while Harvey Motomura, AH6JA, went to the Hilo EOC, located on the Big Island. “The Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) on Upcountry Maui on the slopes of Mt Haleakala responded to provide coverage for the communities in that area,” he explained. “Nancy Kala, WH7XO, coordinated the activities of both hams and non-ham CERT members. Several hams operated on the Healthcomm 80 meter frequency, led by Jack Tsujimura, KH6DQ, who served as net control.”
State Civil Defense (SCD) RACES radio operators arrived onsite at the SCD Emergency Operations Center in Diamond Head Crater and began operations at 8:02 PM. Hashiro and Bogan teamed up as operators on the interisland VHF repeater system, sharing control between a radio and a PC connected to the Allstar controller for the 147.06 MHz repeater -- located on the rim of Diamond Head Crater -- via the Internet. “Larry Sue, AH6SP, manned the 40 meter HF radio, and Robin Liu, AH6CP, ran the Oahu Allstar linked VHF/UHF repeater network,” Hashiro said. “This network is comprised of four linked VHF and UHF repeaters and uses a PC connected via the Internet; it is monitored Hawaii’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) net on the Diamond Head 146.88 MHz repeater. Messages received via radio were sent by the internal e-mail to both the State Warning Point and Operations Desk.”
Hashiro explained that the nets handled various tactical messages regarding communication checks, the progress of preparations and the arrival of people at the designated tsunami refuge centers, as well as road closures near the waterfront. The sirens on Oahu sounded at 8 PM, which was less than the prescribed three-hour lead time notice normally given for sounding the first sirens. The sirens on Maui sounded at 8:25 PM, and the sirens on the west coast of the Big Island sounded at 8:33 PM, as reported by the resident hams.
At 10 PM, the State Civil Defense net changed reporting formats, going from “normal” to only requesting tactical message traffic that included estimates of changes to the ocean level. But due to darkness and the evacuation, Hashiro said that not many hams were in position to see ocean level changes.
Kalani Ku, WH6KX, was with Maui Police Department officers on the north side of Maui at Kahului Harbor, and passed along timely reports of ocean level changes from each passing wave. “Ku had previous experience reporting wave heights during the February 2010 Chilean tsunami, and at 10:53 PM, he noted the water receding from the harbor by a level of two to three feet,” Hashiro said. “His reports over the next hour of +2 feet and -3 feet changes mirrored the measurements of the tide gauges monitored by the PTWC. The tide gauges at Kahului Harbor recorded the greatest level changes during this event, and Amateur Radio reported the results in real time.”
Dave Garrison, AL4A, monitored and reported the successive waves from the Pacific Whale Foundation location at Maalaea, located near Kihei on Maui’s south shore, with reports ranging from +2 feet and -3 feet. “This was Dave’s first experience filing real-time tsunami reports,” Hashiro noted. “The differing ocean levels reported almost concurrently by Ku and Garrison demonstrated the effects and delay of the tsunami waves from Canada wrapping around the island of Maui.”
Hams at the different EOCs, including the State EOC and the Maui and Oahu County EOCs, received these reports simultaneously and in real time. “At the SCD, the personnel at the county EOCs and the PTWC held periodic video conferences to discuss these recent reports and make forecasts and determinations for the next interim period,” Hashiro told the ARRL. “ARRL Hawaii SEC Kevin Bogan, AH6QO -- who has a regular position as a State Warning Point Supervisor at SCD -- was off duty at the time, but he sat in as a representative of SCD RACES. With the approval of the Operations Chief and Vice Director, Kevin contributed the reports by the hams to the videoconference, which helped the PTWC confirm the assessment and forecast of the prevailing conditions. The determination was made to downgrade the warning to an advisory effective at 12:54 AM on Sunday, October 28.” The SCD net secured at 1:05 AM, and the operators at DEM secured about an hour later.
“This event proved a challenge in getting the initial notification and coordination going,” Hashiro explained. “One of the complicating factors in the initial alert was some team members were looking at the previous PTWC bulletin for Hawaii that didn’t contain the warning for Hawaii. They were fixated on the embedded information product issued by the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center at Palmer, Alaska that contained a regional warning for Washington, Oregon and California only. There was a slight delay to pull up and read the latest Hawaii bulletin to confirm receiving the latest status. Others had subscribed to e-mail alerts from non-government websites, and those relayed the Pacific Ocean bulletins and not the bulletins for Hawaii. That bulletin indicated no wide-spread tsunami threat for the Pacific, and it was not updated for the change in Hawaii status. The other factor was the alert was received on a Saturday evening during the dinner hour.”
Hashiro told the ARRL that one of the changes being looked at is “to identify and task bulletin stations to receive the alert notification early from one of the leaders, and put out a bulletin immediately on the key repeater frequencies, while the rest of the telephone call down list is still in progress. That would keep stations on standby on the net frequencies until the official confirmations are received to formally activate a response. By keeping the nets focused, simplifying the reports and requesting only the essential information to be reported, the radio amateurs involved were able to sustain and accomplish their mission of real-time reporting to the EOCs. Both veteran operators and newcomers were successfully integrated into the various reporting nets.”
* All times are Hawaii Standard Time (+10 UTC) unless otherwise noted.
- ARRL
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Tsunami warning for Hawaii downgraded; evacuation orders lifted
(Reuters) - A tsunami warning for Hawaii has been downgraded to an advisory on Sunday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
Evacuation orders were also lifted for coastal areas, a Hawaii civil defense official said.
At least 100,000 people in Hawaii were ordered to move from the shoreline to higher ground late on Saturday after a tsunami warning, but the first waves were less forceful than had been feared and no damage was initially reported.
The tsunami was triggered by a powerful earthquake off Canada's Pacific coast.
- REUTERS
Evacuation orders were also lifted for coastal areas, a Hawaii civil defense official said.
At least 100,000 people in Hawaii were ordered to move from the shoreline to higher ground late on Saturday after a tsunami warning, but the first waves were less forceful than had been feared and no damage was initially reported.
The tsunami was triggered by a powerful earthquake off Canada's Pacific coast.
- REUTERS
Smaller-than-expected tsunami hits Hawaii after Canada earthquake
Eugene Tanner / AP - Visitors and Oahu residents watch the water level in the Ala Wai Harbor in Hawaii for the arrival of a tsunami on Saturday.
Updated at 7:35 a.m. ET: A tsunami warning that spurred coastal evacuations throughout Hawaii was downgraded to a tsunami advisory, ending the threat of serious damage, the state's governor said early on Sunday.
At least 100,000 people were ordered to move from the shoreline to higher ground late on Saturday after the tsunami warning, but the first waves were less forceful than had been feared and no damage was initially reported.
The tsunami, triggered by a powerful earthquake off Canada's Pacific coast, began shortly after 10:30 p.m. Hawaii time (4:30 a.m. ET), according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, as motorists clogged roadways in a mass exodus from low-lying areas.
"The tsunami arrived about when we expected it should," Senior Geophysicist Gerard Fryer told reporters at a news conference, saying: "I was expecting it to be a little bigger."
Officials earlier warned locals to treat the threat as very serious.
The height of the first surge initially was put at three feet, but the warning center subsequently reported that early tsunami wave activity peaked at just 2.5 feet at the island of Maui.
There were no immediate reports of serious flooding or damage, but officials warned that additional waves were still possible and that wave heights of up to 6 feet could be reached in some places.
Following the initial surge, Carlisle said it was unclear if the worst had yet passed.
Tsunami warning sirens in the islands were activated on short notice due to initial confusion among scientists about the quake's undersea epicenter and the extent of the tsunami threat posted by the temblor.
Carlisle announced that all police and emergency personnel were being pulled out from potential flood zones shortly before the first wave, leaving anyone defying evacuation orders to fend for themselves. He urged motorists who remained caught in harm's way due to gridlocked roads to abandon their vehicles and proceed on foot.
"If you are stuck in traffic, you might consider getting out of your car and consider walking to higher ground. You will have to assess your own situation, depending on where you are right now. Right now it is critical," he said.
Governor Neil Abercrombie issued an emergency proclamation for the state.
Canada quake
The warnings followed a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 that hit Canada's Pacific coastal province of British Columbia late on Saturday.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered 123 miles south-southwest of Prince Rupert at a depth of 6.2 miles.
The Earthquakes Canada agency said the quake was followed by numerous aftershocks as large as magnitude 4.6 and that a small tsunami has been recorded by a deep-ocean pressure sensor.
On Oahu, Hawaii's most populous island, tsunami warning sirens could be heard blaring out across Honolulu, the state capital, prompting an immediate crush of traffic, with many motorists stopping at service stations to top up with gasoline. At movie theaters, films were halted in mid-screening as announcements were made urging patrons to return to their homes.
The last time Oahu had a tsunami warning was after the devastating Japanese earthquake of March 2011.
NBC News' Wilson Rothman, who was staying on the island of Kauai, said that while there had been no noticeable rise in water levels, local officials and hotel staff had taken precautions.
"Non-essential hotel functions were shut down fast, and restaurants across the island closed early," he said. "Our hotel asked all guests to evacuate 'vertically' to the 4th, 5th or 6th floor, and asked guests on those floors to 'make new friends'."
On Honolulu's famed Waikiki Beach, residents of high-rise buildings were told to move to the third floor or higher for safety.
Stephany Sofos, a resident of Diamond Head near Waikiki, said most people had either evacuated or relocated to a higher floor.
"I moved my car up the hill, packed up my computer and have my animals all packed and with me," Sofos said, saying that she had not yet seen any obvious receding of the surf, a telltale sign that a tsunami wave is imminent.
"I'm pretty confident because we have a lot of reefs out there and that will prevent any major damage. Maybe it's a false confidence, but I'm not really worried," she said, adding, "It is nerve-wracking."
Tsunami Warning Center Geophysicist Gerard Fryer said the tsunami had caught scientists by surprise.
"We thought that the earthquake was on land and when we learned that it was deeper undersea and we gathered more information, we had no choice but to issue a warning," he said.
As residents scrambled to reach higher ground on Oahu, at least four major road accidents were reported by the state Emergency Medical Services. More accidents were also reported on the outer islands.
A tsunami advisory was also posted for coastal areas of northern California and Oregon, where a maximum sea level rise was estimated at 6 inches, the National Weather Service said. The agency said no significant flooding was expected.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- MSNBC
Tsunami hits Hawaii after Canada earthquake
HONOLULU, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Hawaii was hit by a tsunami on Saturday night prompting the authorities to order at least 100,000 people on the island state to move to higher ground.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the first tsunami wave was three feet high and less forceful than expected. Some forecasts had predicted a wave of up to six feet high.
"The tsunami arrived about when we expected it should," Senior Geophysicist Gerard Fryer told reporters at a news conference, saying: "I was expecting it to be a little bigger."
Other waves were expected.
The tsunami hit with little warning and an alert, issued at short notice due to initial confusion among scientists about the quake's undersea epicenter, caused massive traffic congestion as motorists made a mass exodus from low-lying areas.
The Warning Center had said the first tsunami wave would strike the islands at 10:28 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle announced that all police and emergency personnel were being pulled out from potential flood zones shortly before the first wave, leaving anyone defying evacuation orders to fend for themselves. He urged motorists who remained caught in harm's way due to gridlocked roads to abandon their vehicles and proceed on foot.
"If you are stuck in traffic, you might consider getting out of your car and consider walking to higher ground. You will have to assess your own situation, depending on where you are right now. Right now it is critical," he said
Vindell Hsu, a geophysicist at the Tsunami Warning Center said an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people who live in Hawaii's coastal zones had been urged to move to higher ground until after 10:30 p.m.
Governor Neil Abercrombie issued an emergency proclamation for the state.
The tsunami center cautioned that wave height could not be predicted and that the first wave "may not be the largest".
It said: "All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face".
CANADA QUAKE
The warnings followed a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 that hit Canada's Pacific coastal province of British Columbia late on Saturday.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centred 123 miles (198 km) south-southwest of Prince Rupert at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 km).
The Earthquakes Canada agency said the quake in the Haida Gwaii region was followed by numerous aftershocks as large as 4.6 and that a small tsunami has been recorded by a deep-ocean pressure sensor.
In Hawaii, tsunami warning sirens could be heard blaring out across Honolulu, the state capital on Oahu, the state's most populous island, prompting an immediate crush of traffic, with many motorists stopping first at service stations to top up with gasoline.
At movie theaters, films were halted in mid-screening as announcements were made urging patrons to return to their homes.
The last time Oahu had a tsunami warning was after the devastating Japanese earthquake of March 2011.
On Honolulu's famed Waikiki Beach, residents of high-rise buildings were told to move to the third floor or higher for safety.
Stephany Sofos, a resident of Diamond Head near Waikiki, said most people had either evacuated or relocated to a higher floor.
"I moved my car up the hill, packed up my computer and have my animals all packed and with me," Sofos said, saying that she had not yet seen any obvious receding of the surf, a telltale sign that a tsunami wave is imminent.
"I'm pretty confident because we have a lot of reefs out there and that will prevent any major damage. Maybe it's a false confidence, but I'm not really worried," she said, adding, "It is nerve-wracking."
Tsunami Warning Center Geophysicist Gerard Fryer said the tsunami had caught scientists by surprise.
"We thought that the earthquake was on land and when we learned that it was deeper undersea and we gathered more information, we had no choice but to issue a warning," he said
As residents scrambled to reach higher ground on Oahu, at least four major road accidents were reported by the state Emergency Medical Services. More accidents were also reported on the outer islands. (Reporting by Jorene Barut and Suzanne Roig in Honolulu; Writing by Steve Gorman and Tim Gaynor; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
- Reuters
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the first tsunami wave was three feet high and less forceful than expected. Some forecasts had predicted a wave of up to six feet high.
"The tsunami arrived about when we expected it should," Senior Geophysicist Gerard Fryer told reporters at a news conference, saying: "I was expecting it to be a little bigger."
Other waves were expected.
The tsunami hit with little warning and an alert, issued at short notice due to initial confusion among scientists about the quake's undersea epicenter, caused massive traffic congestion as motorists made a mass exodus from low-lying areas.
The Warning Center had said the first tsunami wave would strike the islands at 10:28 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle announced that all police and emergency personnel were being pulled out from potential flood zones shortly before the first wave, leaving anyone defying evacuation orders to fend for themselves. He urged motorists who remained caught in harm's way due to gridlocked roads to abandon their vehicles and proceed on foot.
"If you are stuck in traffic, you might consider getting out of your car and consider walking to higher ground. You will have to assess your own situation, depending on where you are right now. Right now it is critical," he said
Vindell Hsu, a geophysicist at the Tsunami Warning Center said an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people who live in Hawaii's coastal zones had been urged to move to higher ground until after 10:30 p.m.
Governor Neil Abercrombie issued an emergency proclamation for the state.
The tsunami center cautioned that wave height could not be predicted and that the first wave "may not be the largest".
It said: "All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face".
CANADA QUAKE
The warnings followed a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 that hit Canada's Pacific coastal province of British Columbia late on Saturday.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centred 123 miles (198 km) south-southwest of Prince Rupert at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 km).
The Earthquakes Canada agency said the quake in the Haida Gwaii region was followed by numerous aftershocks as large as 4.6 and that a small tsunami has been recorded by a deep-ocean pressure sensor.
In Hawaii, tsunami warning sirens could be heard blaring out across Honolulu, the state capital on Oahu, the state's most populous island, prompting an immediate crush of traffic, with many motorists stopping first at service stations to top up with gasoline.
At movie theaters, films were halted in mid-screening as announcements were made urging patrons to return to their homes.
The last time Oahu had a tsunami warning was after the devastating Japanese earthquake of March 2011.
On Honolulu's famed Waikiki Beach, residents of high-rise buildings were told to move to the third floor or higher for safety.
Stephany Sofos, a resident of Diamond Head near Waikiki, said most people had either evacuated or relocated to a higher floor.
"I moved my car up the hill, packed up my computer and have my animals all packed and with me," Sofos said, saying that she had not yet seen any obvious receding of the surf, a telltale sign that a tsunami wave is imminent.
"I'm pretty confident because we have a lot of reefs out there and that will prevent any major damage. Maybe it's a false confidence, but I'm not really worried," she said, adding, "It is nerve-wracking."
Tsunami Warning Center Geophysicist Gerard Fryer said the tsunami had caught scientists by surprise.
"We thought that the earthquake was on land and when we learned that it was deeper undersea and we gathered more information, we had no choice but to issue a warning," he said
As residents scrambled to reach higher ground on Oahu, at least four major road accidents were reported by the state Emergency Medical Services. More accidents were also reported on the outer islands. (Reporting by Jorene Barut and Suzanne Roig in Honolulu; Writing by Steve Gorman and Tim Gaynor; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
- Reuters
Tsunami warning issued for Hawaii after British Columbia quake
(Reuters) - A tsunami warning has been issued for the U.S. state of Hawaii after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Canada's British Columbia province late on Saturday.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the alert, saying that the first tsunami wave could strike the islands at 10:28 pm Hawaii Standard Time.
People living in coastal zones were told to move to higher ground until after 10:30 p.m.
(Reporting By Suzanne Roig; Writing by Peter Henderson; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
- Reuters
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the alert, saying that the first tsunami wave could strike the islands at 10:28 pm Hawaii Standard Time.
People living in coastal zones were told to move to higher ground until after 10:30 p.m.
(Reporting By Suzanne Roig; Writing by Peter Henderson; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
- Reuters
Earthquake Magnitude 7.7 - QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION
Earthquake Details
- This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
| Magnitude | 7.7 |
|---|---|
| Date-Time |
|
| Location | 52.769°N, 131.927°W |
| Depth | 17.5 km (10.9 miles) |
| Region | QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION |
| Distances | 139 km (86 miles) S of Masset, Canada 202 km (125 miles) SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada 293 km (182 miles) SW of Terrace, Canada 556 km (345 miles) NW of Campbell River, Canada |
| Location Uncertainty | horizontal +/- 14 km (8.7 miles); depth +/- 4 km (2.5 miles) |
| Parameters | NST=716, Nph=716, Dmin=267.2 km, Rmss=0.95 sec, Gp= 58°, M-type=regional moment magnitude (Mw), Version=A |
| Source |
|
| Event ID | usb000df7n |
- USGS
Friday, 31 August 2012
Earthquake Magnitude 7.6 - PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
Earthquake Details
- This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
| Magnitude | 7.6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date-Time |
| |||
| Location | 10.838°N, 126.704°E | |||
| Depth | 34.9 km (21.7 miles) | |||
| Region | PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION | |||
| Distances | 94 km (58 miles) E of Sulangan, Philippines 106 km (65 miles) ESE of Guiuan, Philippines 161 km (100 miles) ESE of Borongan, Philippines 174 km (108 miles) NE of Surigao, Philippines | |||
| Location Uncertainty | horizontal +/- 13.3 km (8.3 miles); depth +/- 2.8 km (1.7 miles) | |||
| Parameters | NST=688, Nph=688, Dmin=435.3 km, Rmss=0.98 sec, Gp= 11°, M-type=(unknown type), Version=A | |||
| Source |
| |||
| Event ID | usc000cc5m |
- USGS
Monday, 27 August 2012
No damage reported after quake off El Salvador
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean off El Salvador triggering a brief tsunami warning along a stretch of the Central American coast but causing no major damage or casualties, early reports indicated.
The quake, which struck about 4.30pm NZT, was centred about 120 kilometres offshore at a depth of just over 20 km, the US Geological Survey said. It earlier gave the magnitude as 7.4.
A small tsunami hit the El Salvador port of Acajutla following the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
It issued and then cancelled a tsunami alert for El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico.
Emergency services in El Salvador and Guatemala said the quake had caused no discernible damage, and there were no early reports of damage or casualties from elsewhere in the region.
In the El Salvador capital San Salvador, several residents reached by phone very early on Monday morning (local time) said they had not felt the quake.
There were no immediate reports of damage to shipping.
- Reuters
The quake, which struck about 4.30pm NZT, was centred about 120 kilometres offshore at a depth of just over 20 km, the US Geological Survey said. It earlier gave the magnitude as 7.4.
A small tsunami hit the El Salvador port of Acajutla following the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
It issued and then cancelled a tsunami alert for El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico.
Emergency services in El Salvador and Guatemala said the quake had caused no discernible damage, and there were no early reports of damage or casualties from elsewhere in the region.
In the El Salvador capital San Salvador, several residents reached by phone very early on Monday morning (local time) said they had not felt the quake.
There were no immediate reports of damage to shipping.
- Reuters
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)