http://www.smh.com/au/world/australia-on-tsunami-watch-after-earthquake-20100227-pa77.html
Australia on tsunami watch after earthquake
Australia is on tsunami watch after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile's coast, toppling buildings and killing at least six people.
"An undersea earthquake has occurred near the coast of Central Chile," the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said in a statement, warning of a potential tsunami threat to NSW, Queensland, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.
"Tsunami waves have been observed on the coast of chile that may threaten Australia."
The quake, capable of tremendous damage, hit off Chile's coast at 3:34am local time (1734 AEDT) on Saturday, shaking buildings in the capital, where some have buildings collapsed.
The epicentre of the tremor was 100 kilometres north northwest of the Chilean town of Chillan and 115 kilometres northeast of Concepcion, Chile's second-largest city, where more than 200,000 people live along the Bio Bio river.
The quake was felt in Argentina as well.
The survey had initially put the magnitude of the tremor at 8.5 but later adjusted it to 8.8.
In Australia, the BoM said tsunami waves could start affecting Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands after 8:30am (AEDT) on Sunday.
NSW could be hit after 8:45am (AEDT) on Sunday while Queensland would be hit 8:15am (AEST)
The website said the next advice would be issued by 9.15pm (AEDT) on Saturday.
The US Pacific Tsunami warning centre has also issued a tsunami warning for Chile and Peru, and a tsunami watch is in place for Ecuador, Colombia, Antarctica, Panama and Costa Rica.
Japan's meteorological agency also warned of a tsunami risk across large areas of the Pacific as US geologists said the risk extended as far as the Antarctic.
"There is a possibility that tsunami will widely occur in the Pacific Ocean," an official for the Japanese agency said.
"We are now checking if tsunami may hit Japanese coastal areas."
AAP
Replies
Australia's east coast on tsunami alert
AAP
February 28, 2010, 8:48 am
Australia's east coast is bracing for a potential tsunami after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the central coast of Chile.
The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre has issued tsunami warnings since the devastating quake struck early Saturday morning Chilean time (late Saturday afternoon AEDT), toppling buildings and killing hundreds.
Tsunami effects would be felt at Sydney from 8.45am (AEDT) on Sunday and minutes later along other parts of the NSW coast, the centre said.
Queensland's southeast coast is also under threat with the possibility of dangerous waves and strong ocean currents arriving from 8.15am (AEST), stretching from the NSW coast to just south of Rockhampton.
In Victoria, an alert remains in place from the coastal border with NSW to Lakes Entrance.
Similar ocean conditions and foreshore flooding may threaten those areas from 8am (AEDT).
Threatened areas in Tasmania extend along the east and south coasts from the northern tip of Flinders Island to Low Rocky Point, including Banks Strait.
Tasmania's affected areas will remain on alert from 7.45am (AEDT)
Effects from the tsunami could hit Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island from 8.30am (AEDT).
Spirituality is Everywhere and in Everything, even in tsunamis and earthquakes. They are two of many diverse manifestations of collective spiritual consciousness -- like grief and hatred/violence --- as opposed to Joy and Love.
PRAYER WORKS, as you can see (i.e. tsunami warnings lifted).
Ashtar can only speak for himself. Are you not one of his commanders?
MIRACLES ARE REAL.
You cannot "hinder" a tsunami, coz it has its own free will; but you can 'grok' it by being one with it.
The tsunami can produce itself without your help; but you can influence it - for good or evil, if it agrees with you.
Because the tsunami has its own free will, you cannot "hinder" it, nor control it with your technology/thoughts/feelings. But you can put yourself in its position, feel its feelings, be one with it, and be at peace with it.
The same thing applies to all acts of Nature.
It's ignorant and naive to claim "prayer" can stop the works of Mother Nature. I can imagine it would be extremely offensive to those who actually lost loved ones in the other natural disasters we've had recently.
Prayer involves a Higher Level of Consciousness.
In the case of the Indonesian tsunami, the people were not warned by those who knew (i.e. the "authorities") that it was coming their way (we found that out from the "blame game" that followed); thus they didn't consciously receive the warning.
But from a Higher Level of Consciousness, some people received and heeded the warning, and survived.
For example (a true story):
The entire population of a village that was totally wiped out by the tsunami, survived unharmed. When these people, who are more tuned-in to their Higher Selves, observed that the animals were moving to higher ground en masse, they followed the animals, and therefore saved their own lives.
Another example (a true story):
A newly-married couple of friends of mine were holidaying on a beach in Phuket. For three nights, the wife had the same lucid dream -- that hundreds of people were buried up to their necks in the sand, calling out for help. Right after the third dream, she told her husband about it, but he didn't take her seriously. She got so upset that she rang her mother in Bali (she is Balinese) asking for prayers and guidance. Her mother told her to leave the area immediately and quickly move to higher ground. She panicked, and gave her husband an ultimatum that if he refused to leave immediately, she would leave without him. And so they left in a hurry. After an hour's drive away from the beach, they heard the breaking news on the radio about the tsunami. Their tourist accomodation on the beach was totally destroyed by the deluge.
Sarah, regarding your last statement, I understand your opinion. I lost two ancestors from a natural disaster a long time ago. But instead of getting offended, my surviving ancestors' faith in The Omniverse/The Source/God strengthened; they rediscovered the Healing Power of Prayer. And they realised that Mother Nature deserved to be respected.
Prayer Request - Urgent
Plse focus your energies on calming the Tsunami waves and calming the quake aftershocks. Plse pray for those in Chile and all effected areas in Highest Good.
Visualize the calming of the Tsunami, for it to be absorbed in Highest Good.
8.8 Earthquake Hits Chile
Tsunami Headed Across Pacific toward Hawaii
Press Release Wall Street Journal
Hawaiians brace for an expected tsunami from a giant 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Chile, as officials in the state evacuated thousands of residents and tourists to higher ground.
The quake effected Chiles 2nd largest city, Concepcion, and hundreds have lost their lives, the true death count will not be known for several days. Damage to roadways and properties is in the millions.
The "Big Island" of Hawaii may face the biggest threat of wave damage, officials on the islands said.
The 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off coastal Chile in the early hours of the morning is one of the biggest temblors anywhere in more than a century. "Residents right on the coast should be concerned and evacuate the coast," especially in places like Hilo Bay on the island of Hawaii, said Barry Hirshorn, a geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. The tsunami center's Web site update predicts the first waves will hit Hawaii at 11:05 a.m. local time.
The tsunami-warning center's models, based on readings from sensors, are predicting "very rough waves" from six to 10 feet high by the time the tsunami hits Hawaii at about 11:00 a.m. local time, Mr. Hirshorn said. Any major tsunami waves could be damaging, he said, because "the don't crash on the beach. They streamroll in and they streamroll out."
Evacuations were taking place on low-lying areas throughout the state, including the islands of Maui, Kauai and the most populated island, Oahu, where Honolulu lies. As sirens sounded around Hawaii, locals in Honolulu walked outside into neighborhoods to confer with neighbors, and checked online maps to see where their nearest evacuation centers are located.
"When that siren sounded, I can tell you, it was unnerving," said Shannon Hines, a Honolulu resident. Ms. Hines and her neighbors said their neighborhood was not in the expected flood zone, but the group was making contingency plans to head for higher ground if the wave forecast changed. The last time statewide evacuations were ordered for a tsunami was in 1994, but large waves failed to materialize then.
Some of the most intense preparations were taking place in the greater Hilo area, said Bill Hanson, administrative officer with the Hawaii County Civil Defense on the Big Island. The city of Hilo is situated on the southeastern side of the Big Island, facing the direction from which a tsunami wave as high as 14 feet was projected to hit, Mr. Hanson said.
The city is preparing for major damage if the waves are big. "It's not a matter of if, but when it will happen," Mr. Hanson said.
Federal officials closed the Hilo International Airport at 5:30 a.m. Saturday so the estimated 5,000 residents of coastal subdivisions lying next to it could evacuate more quickly across the tarmac, Mr. Hanson said.
Hotels were also emptying guests out of resorts. At the beachfront Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, officials said they had begun evacuating guests from the 286-room resort before tsunami sirens were scheduled to sound across Hawaii at about 6 a.m. They didn't have an estimate on evacuees, but said the hotel was 75% full.
Hotel staff, meanwhile, said they planned to follow suit afterwards. Desk clerk Marian Somalinog said she planned to evacuate at 9:30 a.m. -- almost two hours ahead of when the wave was expected to hit -- but added that she wasn't overly concerned. "If it's my time to go it's my time to go," Ms. Somalinog said.
The warnings were being taken seriously in Hawaii because the state -- especially around Hilo -- has been hit by giant tsunami waves before. At least three big ones have struck Hilo since World War II, including one in 1946 that killed 163 people and another in 1960 that killed 61, said Mr. Hanson.
The most recent loss of life from a tsunami on the island occurred in 1975 when a big wave killed three campers at a beachfront park, he said.
Authorities were hoping loss of life would be minimized this time, in part because tsunami drills are commonplace on the Big Island and throughout Hawaii. Evacuations were also being ordered on other parts of the island, including the affluent Kohala Kona coast where many large resorts are situated.
Waves there were expected to rise as much as seven feet. Other parts of Hawaii, including Maui and Oahu, were not considered in as great a threat because the Big Island lies in the path of the projected tsunami wave and would take the brunt of its force, Mr. Hanson said.
On Oahu, officials said lesser waves of about three feet were anticipated. But they added those could still be large enough to cause concern. "A three foot wall of water that has traveled all the way across the Pacific can cause a lot of damage," said John Cummings, spokesman for Honolulu's Department of Emergency management.
Rob Kay, a public-relations executive in Honolulu, said he could see an unusually large number of pleasure boats headed out into the waters off Waikiki Beach, apparently so they could ride out the waves more safely there. And on Oahu and Maui, hotels were readying plans to evacuate guests to higher floors.
"No one is panicking, but they are concerned," said Lynne Delatori, a desk clerk at Marriott's Maui Ocean Club timeshare resort, where officials planned to evacuate the 700 guests above the fifth floors, if need be.
In Hilo, most of the area's 50,000 residents live on ground high enough to escape much damage from a tsunami. The area of greatest concern is a coastal plain around Hilo Bay where the Keaukaha subdivision by the international airport is located, as well as downtown Hilo.
Elsewhere, the tsunami was disrupting air routes to and from Hawaii. At San Francisco International Airport, delays in flights to airports in Hawaii were being reported as a result of the tsunami preparations.
People should stay away from coastlines for six to 12 hours after the wave to be safe, said Mr. Hirshorn, because the first waves aren't necessarily the biggest
Prayer Request - Urgent
Massive Mega Quake Rocks Chile
Saturday Feb 27,2010
Press Release CNN
Santiago, Chile (CNN) -- A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocked Chile early Saturday, killing at least 147 people and triggering tsunami warnings for the entire Pacific basin.
Warning sirens were sounded in Hawaii at 6 a.m. (11 a.m. ET), although any possible tsunami would not strike for several hours. Tsunamis can travel at 400 to 500 mph -- the speed of a jet plane, said Georgia Tech geology professor Kurt Frankel.
A large wave killed three people and 10 were missing on the island of Juan Fernandez, 400 miles (643 km) off the coast of Chile, said Provincial Governor Ivan De La Maza.
On mainland Chile, the task of trying to save survivors and recover the dead was fully under way. Buildings lay in rubble, bridges and highway overpasses were toppled and roads buckled like rumpled paper. Mangled cars were strewn on several highways, many of the vehicles coming to rest on their roofs.
"This is a major event. This happened near some very populated areas," said Randy Baldwin, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey. "With an 8.8 you expect damage to the population in the area."
As the day unfolded, desperate relatives searched for missing loved ones. Many of the survivors took to the Internet to ask for help in locating relatives.
"I'm from Colombia and I'm searching for my aunt," said one person on Twitter.
The quake struck at 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. ET) off the Pacific coast at a depth of nearly 22 miles (35 km) and about 60 miles (100 km) northwest of Chillan, Chile, the USGS said. Santiago, the capital, is 200 miles (325 km) northeast of the epicenter.
At least 33 aftershocks were reported, including a 6.3-magnitude in Argentina.
"There are really aftershocks like every hour," said Felipe Baytelman, speaking to CNN from Santiago.
Chilean officials took to the airwaves to try to control any jitters.
"We are asking everyone to stay calm, to be patient," Chilean President Michelle Bachelet told reporters after inspecting some of the damaged areas. "We assure everyone that emergency crews are working to resolve these issues."
Bachelet declared areas of catastrophe, similar to a state of emergency, which will allow her to rush in aid. She said the town of Chillan -- which was destroyed by a killer quake in 1939 -- was one of the worst affected.
Bachelet noted that two of the largest hospitals had suffered structural damage and patients were taken to other facilities. Other public institutions also were affected.
"There were reports of riots at one of the jails," Bachelet said. "The jails have, of course, received significant damage. The justice department is looking into the situation, evaluating the damage. We are looking into possibly moving some of these inmates."
The president also asked Chileans to help each other.
"We are looking into shelters," she said. "We are looking into other people providing room in their homes."
In Washington, Chilean ambassador Jose Goni said Chile could manage the catastrophe.
"Eventually, after deeper examination, the government may decide it needs support in some areas," he told CNN.
The United States has resources positioned to assist if Chile requests help, President Barack Obama said in a midafternoon address to the nation.
Obama also warned residents in Hawaii and other areas that could be affected by a tsunami to heed safety instructions from state and local officials.
Saturday's temblor comes about six weeks after an 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated parts of Haiti and killed more than 220,000 people. The Chilean quake, at magnitude 8.8, was 700 to 800 times stronger.
Coastal Chile has a history of deadly earthquakes, with 13 quakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher since 1973, the USGS said. As a result, experts noted that newer buildings are constructed to help withstand the shocks.
President-Elect Sebastian Pinera, who will take office in March, also was monitoring the situation and warned, "The number of victims could get higher."
The capital lost electricity and basic services, including water and telephones. Bachelet said regional hospitals had suffered damage; some were evacuated. A major bridge connecting northern and southern Chile was rendered inoperable, and the Santiago airport was shut down for at least the next 24 hours.
Chilean television showed buildings in tatters in Concepcion, in coastal central Chile. Whole sides of buildings were torn off, and at least two structures were engulfed in flames. Video showed roads that were destroyed and impassable.
The earth's rumbling was felt by millions in Chile and in parts of Argentina as well. Some buildings were evacuated in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, which is 690 miles (1,111 kilometers) away from Santiago.
As recovery efforts continued in Chile, officials in Hawaii and elsewhere prepared for the possible tsunami.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning, the highest level, for the entire Pacific region, including Hawaii and countries as far away as Russia and Japan.
"We have information of high-altitude waves that could be seen in the following hours," Bachelet said. "We are evacuating people in lower areas to higher ground."
The Air Force said it deployed nine Cessna aircraft with a speaker system attached to the outside lower portion of their plane's fuselage to sound the alarm because 80 percent of the shoreline in Hawaii does not have a fixed-base siren.
The U.S. Coast Guard has closed all commercial ports in the Hawaiian islands to incoming traffic and was encouraging vessels to evacuate to sea. All recreational boaters were asked to take immediate precautions and avoid the water.
In addition, four of 10 U.S. military ships in port in Hawaii were heading out to sea. An additional three ships in San Diego got under way because of high seas.
California and Alaska were under a tsunami advisory.
Follow tsunami warning information
The earliest estimated arrival for a wave that could affect Hawaii is 11:19 a.m. (4:19 p.m. ET), according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
But evacuations of coastal areas began at 6 a.m. (11 a.m. ET). Outdoor siren systems in each Hawaiian county sounded simultaneously to alert residents and visitors to evacuate coastal areas.
CNN Chile, CNN's partner network, suffered damage to its broadcast facilities but continued in operation.
Eduardo de Canto, the head of airport operations in Santiago, told Chile's TVN that the terminal in the airport is severely damaged although he said runways were operational.
Santiago resident Leo Perioto jumped out of his bed in his apartment at the top of a six-story building.
"The whole building was shaking," he said. "The windows were wobbling a lot. We could feel the walls moving from side to side."
Glass shattered at the Santiago Marriott Hotel, but there appeared to be no structural damage, said Alessandro Perez.
Anita Herrera at the Hotel Kennedy in Santiago said electricity was out and guests were nervous.
"Our hotel is built for this," she said. "In Chile, this happens many times."
The U.S. State Department said all but two U.S. Embassy personnel in Chile were accounted for.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she will proceed Sunday with her planned trip to five Latin American countries, including Chile.
Saturday's epicenter was just a few miles north of the largest earthquake recorded in the world: a magnitude 9.5 quake in May 1960 that killed 1,655 and unleashed a tsunami that crossed the Pacific.
CNN's Rolando Santos
HAWAII UNDER TSUNAMI WARNING
Modified Sat, Feb 27, 2010 06:40 AM
By JAYMES SONG - Associated Press Writer
Tags: US Quake Tsunami Alerts
EWA BEACH, Hawaii -- Hawaii is under a tsunami warning following a massive earthquake that struck central Chile.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also said a tsunami advisory was in effect for the coast of California and coastal areas of Alaska from Kodiak to Attu.
The center says a tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the Hawaii. It said a tsunami in California and Alaska was possible.
The Ewa (EH-vah) Beach, Hawaii-based tsunami center says the first waves are expected to arrive at 11:19 a.m. Saturday (4:19 p.m. EST).