Another huge earthquake -- 8.8 in Chile

I can't believe someone hasn't told him to tone it down.

AUSTRALIA has issued a tsunami warning from Queensland to Tasmania, warning of possible "dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding.''

And people should get out of the water now as tsunami conditions have reached Australia's east coast, the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre warns.

Anybody who's on the beach or who might be diving in that area or on a boat should be getting out of the water as of now,'' JATWC spokesman Alasdair (Alasdair) Hainsworth told AAP at 9.40am (AEDT).

"We're expecting to see the first effects of the tsunami, now, in south eastern in Australia and then progressively affect the remainder of New South Wales and Queensland.''

The Bureau has warned people on Australia's eastern coast not to travel to the sea to watch the tidal surge.

"Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami,'' the Bureau of Meteorology's alert said.



"Check that your neighbours have received this advice. Boats in close should return quickly if possible. Boats in deep water should stay offshore until further advised.''

But no evaculations near the Australian coast have been ordered.

Tsunami hits New Zealand
From correspondents in Wellington From: AFP February 28, 2010 9:33am

WAVES up to 1.5 metres (five feet) high rammed into New Zealand today as a tsunami generated by a huge earthquake in Chile intensified, but there were no reports of serious damage.

New Zealand's entire east coast was at risk with walls of water up to three metres (10 feet) expected to hit the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula, near the main South Island city of Christchurch, officials said.

In the South Pacific island nation of Tonga, residents made their way to higher points inland, with memories still fresh of a tsunami in September that also hit Samoa and American Samoa, leaving more than 180 people dead.

The first wave of 20 centimetres arrived at the Chathams soon after 7am and within three hours the waves had risen to 1.5 metres, Rana Solomon of the Chatham Islands Council said.



"It is expected that the greatest wave heights will occur between six and 12 hours after the initial arrivals," the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management said in a statement.

However, officials were hopeful the tsunami would not cause severe damage when they hit mainland New Zealand throughout the day.

"We can say it's unlikely to be very destructive," Ken Gledhill from the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS) told Television New Zealand.

Tsunami reaches Australia, no big waves reported
Agence France-Presse | 02/28/2010 7:48 AM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/world/02/27/10/tsunami-reaches-australia-no-big-waves-reported


SYDNEY - Australian officials on Sunday recorded the first effects of a wide-ranging tsunami generated by the Chile earthquake, reporting a rise in sea levels but no major waves.

Water levels surged by a few centimetres off Tasmania, they said, warning of rises of up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) and strong currents for several hours rolling up Australia's east coast.

"At the moment we're really in the first few minutes of it," Alasdair Hainsworth, the Bureau of Meteorology's acting assistant director of services, told AFP.

"It's sea levels rising by just a couple of centimetres at the moment."

People were urged to stay away from east coast beaches after the massive 8.8-magnitude quake hit Chile, killing 214 people and sending giant waves speeding across the Pacific.

"We're not expecting to see any significant water inundation but we're still urging people to stay away from the water's edge and stay out of the water," Hainsworth said.

"It's likely to cause strong currents. This could occur for the next four to six hours at least."

But hundreds of people ignored the warnings, heading down to Sydney beaches despite fears that the massive earthquake would trigger a tsunami.

At the popular eastern Sydney beach of Bondi, scores of swimmers ventured into the water while in nearby Coogee people lined the promenade above the sand to watch for any unusual waves.

Bondi lifesaver Jacob Waxs said about 100 people were in the water despite being told it was dangerous and that lifesavers had ordered all beaches in New South Wales closed.

"Unfortunately we cannot order people off the beach, we can only advise," he told AFP.

"Initially everybody got out, however, people seem to be going back in and the tsunami warning is still active."

"The surfers here in Bondi will still be out there when there's a shark alarm," he added.

The New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) has issued official warnings for people to stay away from the state's coastal areas.

"Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami, as there is the possibility of dangerous, localised flooding of the immediate foreshore," the warning stated......



as of 02/28/2010 7:48 AM

Evacuation ordered as tsunami heads for Japan
Updated 1 hour 38 minutes ago


The earthquake in Chile sent tsunami waves roaring across the Pacific Ocean. (Reuters)


Japan has evacuated more than 50,000 people from vulnerable seaside areas as a tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake in Chile approaches its Pacific coast.

The tsunami could hit Japan's northern-most island of Hokkaido about 1:00 pm (local time), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

"A tsunami as high as three metres is expected on the Japanese coastline on the Pacific Ocean," said Yasuo Sekita, an agency official in charge of monitoring earthquakes and tsunamis.

"The height of the tsunami could be twice what is expected, depending on factors such as the shape of the coasts. Also, the second tsunami and ones afterwards could be bigger."

Nations in the Pacific rim were put on tsunami alert after the huge quake struck Chile yesterday afternoon, bringing down buildings and overturning cars in the capital, Santiago.

People in Hawaii were urged to evacuate to higher ground, but the tsunami threat has since past there.

Beaches on Australia's east coast are closed today as smaller waves hit the coast.

Meanwhile, Philippines authorities have urged residents of 19 provinces facing the Pacific Ocean to seek higher ground, warning that a tsunami was expected within hours.

However, they said the waves were not expected to be higher than one metre and no forced evacuation was in place...............

tsunami warnings have been cancelled for entire pacific basin...

They lied. Japan evacuated something like 50,000 people and the wave was 10cm.