Yikes! South Pacific Quake and Tsunami!

[3113]

8.3!

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of up to 8.3 struck in the South Pacific between Samoa and American Samoa around dawn Tuesday, sending terrified residents fleeing for higher ground as a tsunami swept ashore, flattening at least one village. Officials said they were checking reports of fatalities, including people being swept away from coastal communities, but communications and power outages were hampering rescue efforts.

The quake hit at 6:48 a.m. Tuesday (1748 GMT) midway between the two island groups. In Apia, the Samoan capital, families reported shaking that lasted for up to three minutes. The U.S. Geological Service, which estimated the magnitude at 8.0, said the quake struck 20 miles (35 kilometers) below the ocean floor, 120 miles (190 kilometers) from American Samoa and 125 miles (200 kilometers) from Samoa, with a 5.6-magnitude aftershock 20 minutes later. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center put the quake's magnitude at 8.3 and issued a general alert for the South Pacific region, from American Samoa to New Zealand. It said there were indications a tsunami wave could be "destructive" along some coastlines. Several hours away from the epicenter, Hawaii was put under a tsunami watch that later was downgraded to an advisory.

American Samoa reported an unspecified number of injuries. Gov. Togiola Tulafono was at his Honolulu office assessing the situation but was having difficulty getting information, said Filipp Ilaoa, deputy director of the office. Ilaoa could not confirm any deaths or injuries.....

Complete article here.

Any Lit folk in Hawaii or New Zealand, check in. I'm sure you're okay, but there is such a thing as second quakes and aftershocks. We wanna make sure you stay okay.

 

[amicus]

Last I heard, fourteen were killed in American Samoa, no reports from New Zealand or other Pacific Islands in that area. The warning for Hawaii has apparently been cancelled.

Scary world out there...

ami

 

[Handley_Page]

Was this a Tectonic plate event ?

 

[amicus]

That is my understanding, Handley, a subduction event. I know I called my kids and grandkids on the Oregon coast as one report said tidal waves were possible along the California and Oregon coast.

regards...

ami

 

[Songcatcher]

Was this a Tectonic plate event ?

Who knows.

HAARP

Look it up.

By the way, there was another tsunami warning centred on Indian Ocean, tonight.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Was this a Tectonic plate event ?

Norataki China, I heard. Not Tectonic.

 

[R. Richard]

From Wiki:
Tsunami are sometimes referred to as tidal waves. In recent years, this term has fallen out of favor, especially in the scientific community, because tsunami actually have nothing to do with tides. The once-popular term derives from their most common appearance, which is that of an extraordinarily high tidal bore. Tsunami and tides both produce waves of water that move inland, but in the case of tsunami the inland movement of water is much greater and lasts for a longer period, giving the impression of an incredibly high tide. Although the meanings of "tidal" include "resembling" or "having the form or character of" the tides, and the term tsunami is no more accurate because tsunami are not limited to harbours, use of the term tidal wave is discouraged by geologists and oceanographers.

 

[oggbashan]

Tsunami in Japanese apparently means "Harbour Wave" because the height of the surge is amplified by inlets and bays that funnel the water.

Only really large tsunamis cause damage on straight coastlines.

Og