Heads up down under along coastal areas: 8.0 Quake Santa Cruz Islands, Tsunami Warnings issued

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8.0 - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude 8.0
Date-Time
6 Feb 2013 01:12:23 UTC
6 Feb 2013 12:12:23 near epicenter
5 Feb 2013 19:12:23 standard time in your timezone
Location 10.752S 165.089E
Depth 5 km
Distances
347 km (215 miles) E (96 degrees) of Kira Kira, Solomon Islands
580 km (361 miles) ESE (105 degrees) of HONIARA, Solomon Islands
1963 km (1220 miles) E (96 degrees) of PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 0118Z 06 FEB 2013

THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC
OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS...EXCEPT ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...
WASHINGTON...OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.

... A TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH ARE IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR

SOLOMON ISLANDS / VANUATU / NAURU / PAPUA NEW GUINEA / TUVALU /
NEW CALEDONIA / KOSRAE / FIJI / KIRIBATI / WALLIS AND FUTUNA

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR

MARSHALL ISLANDS / HOWLAND AND BAKER / POHNPEI / TOKELAU /
SAMOA / KERMADEC ISLANDS / NEW ZEALAND / AMERICAN SAMOA /
TONGA / AUSTRALIA / NIUE / COOK ISLANDS / INDONESIA /
WAKE ISLAND / CHUUK / JARVIS ISLAND / GUAM / NORTHERN MARIANAS /
PALMYRA ISLAND / YAP / JOHNSTON ISLAND / MINAMITORISHIMA /
BELAU

FOR ALL OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS BULLETIN... IT IS FOR
INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND
ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 0112Z 06 FEB 2013
COORDINATES - 10.9 SOUTH 165.1 EAST
DEPTH - 33 KM
LOCATION - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
MAGNITUDE - 8.0

EVALUATION

IT IS NOT KNOWN THAT A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. THIS WARNING IS
BASED ONLY ON THE EARTHQUAKE EVALUATION. AN EARTHQUAKE OF THIS
SIZE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THAT CAN
STRIKE COASTLINES NEAR THE EPICENTER WITHIN MINUTES AND MORE
DISTANT COASTLINES WITHIN HOURS. AUTHORITIES SHOULD TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS POSSIBILITY. THIS CENTER
WILL MONITOR SEA LEVEL DATA FROM GAUGES NEAR THE EARTHQUAKE TO
DETERMINE IF A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED AND ESTIMATE THE SEVERITY OF
THE THREAT.

ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS
WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL
ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE
LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN
SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME
-------------------------------- ------------ ------------
SOLOMON ISLANDS KIRAKIRA 10.4S 161.9E 0145Z 06 FEB
AUKI 8.8S 160.6E 0216Z 06 FEB
HONIARA 9.3S 160.0E 0222Z 06 FEB
GHATERE 7.8S 159.2E 0227Z 06 FEB
MUNDA 8.4S 157.2E 0233Z 06 FEB
PANGGOE 6.9S 157.2E 0245Z 06 FEB
FALAMAE 7.4S 155.6E 0253Z 06 FEB
VANUATU ESPERITU_SANTO 15.1S 167.3E 0158Z 06 FEB
ANATOM_ISLAND 20.2S 169.9E 0254Z 06 FEB
NAURU NAURU 0.5S 166.9E 0300Z 06 FEB
PAPUA NEW GUINE KIETA 6.1S 155.6E 0304Z 06 FEB
AMUN 6.0S 154.7E 0306Z 06 FEB
RABAUL 4.2S 152.3E 0330Z 06 FEB
LAE 6.8S 147.0E 0402Z 06 FEB
KAVIENG 2.5S 150.7E 0406Z 06 FEB
PORT_MORESBY 9.3S 146.9E 0426Z 06 FEB
MADANG 5.2S 145.8E 0428Z 06 FEB
MANUS_ISLAND 2.0S 147.5E 0445Z 06 FEB
WEWAK 3.5S 143.6E 0509Z 06 FEB
VANIMO 2.6S 141.3E 0530Z 06 FEB
TUVALU FUNAFUTI_ISLAND 7.9S 178.5E 0322Z 06 FEB
NEW CALEDONIA NOUMEA 22.3S 166.5E 0339Z 06 FEB
KOSRAE KOSRAE_ISLAND 5.5N 163.0E 0354Z 06 FEB
FIJI SUVA 18.1S 178.4E 0405Z 06 FEB
KIRIBATI TARAWA_ISLAND 1.5N 173.0E 0406Z 06 FEB
KANTON_ISLAND 2.8S 188.3E 0446Z 06 FEB
CHRISTMAS_ISLAN 2.0N 202.5E 0650Z 06 FEB
MALDEN_ISLAND 3.9S 205.1E 0700Z 06 FEB
WALLIS AND FUTU FUTUNA_ISLAND 14.3S 181.8E 0414Z 06 FEB
WALLIS_ISLAND 13.3S 183.8E 0422Z 06 FEB
MARSHALL ISLAND KWAJALEIN 8.7N 167.7E 0420Z 06 FEB
MAJURO 7.1N 171.4E 0424Z 06 FEB
ENIWETOK 11.4N 162.3E 0457Z 06 FEB
HOWLAND AND BAK HOWLAND_ISLAND 0.6N 183.4E 0424Z 06 FEB
POHNPEI POHNPEI_ISLAND 7.0N 158.2E 0438Z 06 FEB
TOKELAU NUKUNONU_ISLAND 9.2S 188.2E 0440Z 06 FEB
SAMOA APIA 13.8S 188.2E 0458Z 06 FEB
KERMADEC ISLAND RAOUL_ISLAND 29.2S 182.1E 0504Z 06 FEB
NEW ZEALAND NORTH_CAPE 34.4S 173.3E 0505Z 06 FEB
AUCKLAND_WEST 37.1S 174.2E 0606Z 06 FEB
EAST_CAPE 37.7S 178.5E 0615Z 06 FEB
GISBORNE 38.7S 178.0E 0639Z 06 FEB
AUCKLAND_EAST 36.7S 175.0E 0647Z 06 FEB
NEW_PLYMOUTH 39.1S 174.1E 0651Z 06 FEB
WELLINGTON 41.3S 174.8E 0703Z 06 FEB
AMERICAN SAMOA PAGO_PAGO 14.3S 189.3E 0506Z 06 FEB
TONGA NUKUALOFA 21.0S 184.8E 0514Z 06 FEB
AUSTRALIA BRISBANE 27.2S 153.3E 0515Z 06 FEB
CAIRNS 16.7S 145.8E 0520Z 06 FEB
SYDNEY 33.9S 151.4E 0546Z 06 FEB
GLADSTONE 23.8S 151.4E 0625Z 06 FEB
NIUE NIUE_ISLAND 19.0S 190.0E 0531Z 06 FEB
COOK ISLANDS PUKAPUKA_ISLAND 10.8S 194.1E 0533Z 06 FEB
PENRYN_ISLAND 8.9S 202.2E 0641Z 06 FEB
RAROTONGA 21.2S 200.2E 0647Z 06 FEB
INDONESIA JAYAPURA 2.4S 140.8E 0537Z 06 FEB
WARSA 0.6S 135.8E 0622Z 06 FEB
MANOKWARI 0.8S 134.2E 0641Z 06 FEB
SORONG 0.8S 131.1E 0710Z 06 FEB
WAKE ISLAND WAKE_ISLAND 19.3N 166.6E 0547Z 06 FEB
CHUUK CHUUK_ISLAND 7.4N 151.8E 0555Z 06 FEB
JARVIS ISLAND JARVIS_ISLAND 0.4S 199.9E 0621Z 06 FEB
GUAM GUAM 13.4N 144.7E 0622Z 06 FEB
NORTHERN MARIAN SAIPAN 15.3N 145.8E 0626Z 06 FEB
PALMYRA ISLAND PALMYRA_ISLAND 6.3N 197.6E 0628Z 06 FEB
YAP YAP_ISLAND 9.5N 138.1E 0635Z 06 FEB
JOHNSTON ISLAND JOHNSTON_ISLAND 16.7N 190.5E 0637Z 06 FEB
MINAMITORISHIMA MINAMITORISHIMA 24.3N 154.0E 0640Z 06 FEB
BELAU MALAKAL 7.3N 134.5E 0658Z 06 FEB

BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.
THE TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE.

THE WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER WILL ISSUE PRODUCTS
FOR ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...WASHINGTON...OREGON...CALIFORNIA.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324445904578286703858134458.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Quote:

A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Wednesday off Santa Cruz Islands, shortly after a magnitude 6.3 quake struck in the same area, triggering a tsunami warning for islands in the Pacific, U.S. watch centers said.

The magnitude 8 quake occurred at 12:12 p.m. local time (0112 GMT) at a depth of 5 kilometers off Santa Cruz Islands, which are part of the Solomon Islands nation, about 347 kilometers east of Kira Kira, Solomon Islands, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

A tsunami warning was issued for areas in the Pacific including Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, while a tsunami watch was in effect for other areas including Marshall Islands and Samoa, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8269652/Civil-Defence-still-urging-caution-after-tsunami-watch-cancelled

Civil Defence still urging caution after tsunami watch cancelled

Swimmers and boaties, including those in Kapiti, are being warned to keep safe ahead of a small tsunami likely to hit New Zealand this evening.

The wave was generated following a magnitude 8.0 earthquake which hit east of the Solomon Islands this afternoon, destroying at least three villages there.

The quake was a shallow 5.8km deep and the epicentre was 347km east of Kira Kira in the Solomon Islands. Several large aftershocks, ranging between 5.2 to 6.6 in magnitude, have hit since the initial quake.

A hospital director told AFP three villages had been destroyed by the quake. However, the full extent of the damage yet unknown.

A tsunami measuring 91 centimetres in height had been recorded at Lata Wharf in Santa Cruz Islands, near the epicentre.

There were early fears for a large tsunami that could affect other countries in the region, however, A "warning" by the Pacific Tsunami warning centre was cancelled just before 5pm.

CIVIL DEFENCE URGING CAUTION IN NEW ZEALAND

However, in New Zealand, authorities are still urging care.

The current assessment by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management places New Zealand on a tsunami watch. This is a step below a tsunami alert.

The ministry has issued a potential threat advisory for North Cape, Auckland west, East Cape, Gisborne, Auckland east, New Plymouth and Wellington.

It says those in restricted coastal areas in particular need to be aware of the changing conditions expected around 6pm this evening. The wave would be around 1m high.

Director of Civil Defence John Hamilton, speaking from the bunker at Parliament this afternoon, said there was unlikely to be damage to buildings or property due to the tsunami. He said however, that people near the water, particularly swimmers or those in boats, needed to be cautious.

"You just don't know [what could happen] with these things travelling over a long distance."

"If you're in the water particularly in restricted coastal areas you need to be wary of what might happen."

He said in areas like Tutukaka, in Northland, had experienced surges that had damaged boats and yachts in situations like this before. Likewise, he urged swimmers to be careful.

"I wouldn't want to see people being swept out [to sea].

"This is not insignificant but there is not going to be damage to building and things like that."

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@Butrflynet,

Big quake, relatively little tsunami.

It's interesting how the type of quake, as opposed to the magnitude of the quake, contributes more to any resulting Tsunami. I believe the one in 2005 caused the movement of a large portion of the ocean floor, displacing a lot of water. I'm guessing this one didn't displace much.

In order to minimize false alarms (which will dull people's reactions to future warnings), scientists need to include topology displacement into their warning system. That's not going to be easy given the short timeframe they have to work with to generate a reliable warning. Lots of challenges to overcome with tsunami prediction.

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/tsunami-warning-after-string-of-earthquakes-off-solomon-islands/story-fnd134gw-1226571643903

SIX bodies, including that of a child, have been found in the sodden wreckage left by a tsunami that smashed into villages in the Solomon Islands.

A government spokesman says the 1.5-metre waves that roared into Santa Cruz Island on Wednesday were too fast to outrun for five elderly villagers and one child.

George Herming said several other people were missing today and strong aftershocks were keeping frightened villagers from returning to the coast.

The tsunami was generated by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake in the South Pacific.

Smaller waves were recorded in Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

Herming said an estimated 100 homes had been damaged or destroyed.

The tsunami flooded the airstrip at the nearest airport, preventing relief workers from reaching the region by air.
Sirens were heard in Fiji as the region-wide tsunami alert was issued, locals said.

"Chaos in the streets of Suva as everyone tries to avoid the tsunami!!'' tweeted Ratu Nemani Tebana from the Fiji capital.

The waves reached as far away as Japan, which was hit by a huge tsunami in March 2011 that killed more than 19,000 people.

Japan's Meteorological Agency reported a 40-centimetre tsunami hitting Hachijo Island about 290 kilometres south of Tokyo, while 20-centimetre waves reached the main islands of Kyushu and Shikoku and smaller waves were recorded on Honshu.

Australian and US monitors said a tsunami wave measuring 91 centimetres washed into the town of Lata, on the main Santa Cruz island of Ndende.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the wave appeared to have travelled 500 metres inland, inundating Lata's airstrip as well as surrounding villages, flattening many traditional houses.

"We can report five dead and three injured. One of the dead was a male child, three were elderly women and one an elderly man,'' Chris Rogers, a nurse at Lata Hospital, told AFP.

Solomons Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo's office said four villages on the Santa Cruz Islands had been hit by the tsunami.

"Latest reports suggest that between 60 to 70 homes have been damaged by waves crashing into at least four villages on Santa Cruz Islands,'' Lilo's spokesman George Herming told AFP.

"At this stage, authorities are still trying to establish the exact number and extent of damage. Communication to (the) Santa Cruz Islands is difficult due to the remoteness of the islands.''

Solomon Islands Red Cross secretary general Joanne Zoleveke said she had been told at least three villages were hit, with houses washed away.

"In the Solomon Islands when we talk about villages there can be anything from 10 to 30 houses,'' she said.

With Lata's airstrip out of commission, officials were hoping to fly over the area early on Thursday to assess the damage better.

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Heads up down under along coastal areas: 8.0 Quake Santa Cruz Islands, Tsunami Warnings issued

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