8.8 - Magnitude Quake Hits Chile *Merged*

[cocopea9052]

Look at this folks, the area for Chile is now just one complete colored in circle!!!!! Has anyone ever seen this before on this map?


http://www.iris.edu/seismon/views/eveday//imgs/topMap.eveday.gif

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

[Jackmf]

Yahoo News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/quake_tsunami;_ylt=ApUvdge3RT0T_WRxMY2A45Cs0NUE;_y lu=X3oDMTNkbmprcGJqBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMjI3L3F1YWt lX3RzdW5hbWkEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwMyBHBvc wM5BHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawN 0c3VuYW1paGl0c2Y-)

HONOLULU, Hawaii – A geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii says the tsunami was approaching Hawaii a bit faster than originally predicted.

Victor Sardina says data coming in from buoys and tide gauges across the Pacific indicated the tsunami should arrive in Hawaii at 11:05 a.m. (4:05 p.m. EST), instead of 11:19 a.m.

He predicts the tsunami would be a series of big waves, rather than a wall of water.

Charles McCreery, director of the center, says the tsunami will be "a lot like a fast high tide" and could pose dangers for several hours after the initial waves hit.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

PAPEETE, French Polynesia (AP) — Tsunami waves up to 6 feet (2 meters) high have struck parts of French Polynesia, but no damage was immediately reported.

Residents were being warned early Sunday morning that tsunamis can consist of several waves and they should remain vigilant.

Tonga and the Cook Islands were evacuating coastal areas as the waves were expected to hit later in the morning.

On Tahiti, traffic was banned on roads less than 500 meters from sea. Residents on islands of low elevation were told to get to high ground.

Monique Richeton, mayor of Rikitea, said the first wave struck Gambier early Sunday at less than one meter and no damage was reported.

[cocopea9052]

I have returned to the boards 8.5 hours later. My mom woke me up to the news that now there is a tsunami warning in Hawaii for 11:20 PST. Lots of prayers going out, I hope!

Hi, again, cocopea :hug

Megan :wave

We should still be sleep as late as we were up.....lol. I will be taking a nap today no doubt.

But so much news coming in now...wow!

I'm gonna update the California member list, can I add you? Are you in So Cal?

[Jackmf]

Weather.com (http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/0227-tsunami-warn_2010-02-27)

Tsunami warnings and advisories
by Jonathan Erdman , on Feb 27, 2010 8:12 am ET
A destructive earthquake early Saturday morning in Chile has produced a tsunami that is propagating over the Pacific Ocean.

IMPORTANT POINTS FOR AREAS IN A TSUNAMI WARNING


•A tsunami wave is a series of waves. The first wave may not be the largest!
•Each individual wave crest can last 5-15 minutes or more and can extensively flood coastal areas!
•Time from one tsunami wave to the next can be five minutes to an hour. Threat may persist for many hours as multiple waves arrive.
•Move to higher ground immediately! Do NOT head toward the coast to watch!
•Listing an arrival time below does not imply a wave is imminent, per Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.


Here are the latest tsunami warnings and advisories, and arrival times of the first waves.


HAWAII

•Arrival of first wave:
Hilo: 11:05 AM HST (4:05 pm EST)
Honolulu: 11:37 AM HST (4:37 pm EST)
Kahului: 11:26 AM HST (4:26 pm EST)




•There are no coasts of the island that are safe! These waves can wrap around the islands and affect all coasts! Wave heights tend to be highest in harbors such as Hilo Harbor, Kaneohe Bay and Waikiki Beach!






WEST COAST/ALASKA


•At this time, only a tsunami "advisory" is in effect for the California coast, as well as the Alaskan Pacific coast.


•Per the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, only a minor (non-destructive) tsunami is expected in Southern California. That being said, these lower amplitude tsunamis still can produce dangerous currents and surges in harbors and bays.


•Forecast arrival times below (within 30 minutes) for Southern California:
San Pedro Harbor: 12:15 pm PST
Santa Monica Harbor: 12:25 pm PST
Santa Barbara Harbor: 12:31 pm PST
Port San Luis Harbor: 12:35 pm PST






OTHER PACIFIC AREAS


•Arrival of first wave:
Pago Pago, American Samoa: 2:51 pm EST
Wellington, New Zealand: 2:55 pm EST
Sydney, Australia: 4:46 pm EST
Japan: 11:35 pm EST
Philippines: 12:27 am EST Sunday

[Zerozx]

At least 122 dead in Chile quake, tsunami warnings continue - http://wireupdate.com/wires/2020/at-least-122-dead-in-chile-quake-tsunami-warnings-continue-3/


SANTIAGO, CHILE (BNO NEWS) -- An extremely powerful earthquake struck near Concepcion, Chile on early Saturday, seismologists said, unleashing a tsunami that triggered tsunami warnings in dozens of countries throughout the Pacific. Hundreds of people are feared to have been killed, as authorities report major damage.

The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 8.8, was centered about 60 miles north-northwest of Chillan and 200 miles southwest of Santiago, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It struck at a depth of 21.7 miles at 03.34 a.m. local time.

A tsunami warning was immediately issued for the entire Pacific Ocean, even as far away as Japan, according to the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. A tsunami advisory was issued for the U.S. Pacific Coast, according to the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. More details on the tsunami threat can be found below.

The Chilean capital of Santiago was without power and phone lines four hours after the earthquake. Reports say multiple buildings have collapsed in Greater Santiago. Santiago's International Airport was closed and many flights were diverted to Mendoza in Argentina.

Chilean President-elect Sebastián Piñera confirmed at least 122 people had been killed, while scores of others were left injured.

The International Red Cross called the earthquake an "international emergency" and said Chilean leaders are meeting to discuss the need of international assistance. The organization said no international appeal was made as of 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT).

As of 11.45 a.m. EST (16.45 GMT), the following regions were under a tsunami warning by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center:

Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Antarctica, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Pitcairn, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Fr. Plynesia, Mexico, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Kermadec Islands, Niue, New Zealand, Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa, Jarvis Islands, Wallis-Futuna, Tokelau, Fiji, Australia, Hawaii, Palmyra Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Howland-Baker, New Caledonia, Johnston Islands, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Midway Islands, Kosrae, Papua New Guinea, Pohnpei, Wake Islands, Chuuk, Russia, Marcus Islands, Indonesia, N. Marianas, Guam, Yap, Belau, Japan, Philippines, Chinese Taipei.

Japan's Meteorological Agency did not issue a tsunami warning for the country, even though the Pacifci Tsunami Warning Center did.

"Sea level readings confirm that a tsunami has been generated which could cause widespread damage," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. A spokeswoman for the agency, Delores Clark, said the highest tsunami recorded as of 9.40 a.m. EST (1442GMT) was 2.34 meter (7.7 feet) in Chile. Media reports earlier pointed to a much larger tsunami, with reports saying up to 40 meters, but Clark said that was unlikely. "We have not recorded any monster tsunami or anything like that," she said.

The massive earthquake was also followed by a series of aftershocks, which may continue for weeks or even months. The strongest aftershock was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, which struck 130 miles of Concepcion around 3.01 a.m. local time.

Other aftershocks had magnitudes of 6.2, 6.0, 5.4, 5.6, 6.0, 5.4, 5.4, 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, 5.5, 6.1, 5.7, 5.6, 5.0, 5.3, 5.6, 5.1, 5.8, 5.9, 5.9, 5.4, 5.3, 5.5, 5.2, 5.0, 5.2, 5.0, 5.0, 5.2, 5.0, 5.2, 5.1, 6.3 and 5.5. Others were 4.9 or lower.

The 2010 Chile earthquake is the second largest quake in the past 20 years, behind the 2004 Indian Ocean 9.1-magnitude quake.

[Zerozx]

Dutch gov't says 27 nationals unaccounted for after Chile earthquake - http://wireupdate.com/wires/2019/dutch-govt-says-27-nationals-unaccounted-for-after-chile-earthquake/


THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) -- Twenty-seven Dutch citizens are unaccounted for after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile on Saturday, officials said.

A spokesman for the Dutch Foreign Ministry said family members of 27 nationals in Chile said they were unable to contact their relatives. He said that number was down from 37 earlier.

About 1,000 Dutch nationals permanently live in Chile.

[cocopea9052]

:wave Lisa

Wow....okay, I gotta come up with a different word, as I have been using that in every post! :lol2

Thanks for the updates....how you doing? :hug What is you guys weather like?

[Megan]

Megan :wave

We should still be sleep as late as we were up.....lol. I will be taking a nap today no doubt.

But so much news coming in now...wow!

I'm gonna update the California member list, can I add you? Are you in So Cal?


Yep, San Diego!

And yeah, I'll be definitely taking a nap today. Haha. I couldn't fall back asleep when my mother told me about the tsunami warning in Hawaii.

[Zerozx]

Massive quake, aftershocks hit Chile; at least 122 dead - http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/27/chile.quake/index.html


Santiago, Chile (CNN) -- A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocked Chile early Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, killing at least 122 people and triggering tsunami warnings for the entire Pacific basin.

Warning sirens were sounded in Hawaii at 6 a.m., 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 by late morning. Buildings lay in rubble, bridges and highway overpasses were toppled and roads buckled like rumpled paper.

"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."

The quake struck at 3:34 a.m. off the Pacific coast, about 60 miles northwest of Chillan, Chile, the USGS said. Santiago, the capital, is 200 miles northeast of the epicenter.

At least 33 aftershocks were reported, the most recent being 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 taking all the necessary measures at this time," Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said.

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.

"I would like to offer my condolences to the families of the 122 people who lost their lives during the earthquake," said President-elect Sebastian Pinera. "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 of Buenos Aires, which is 690 miles from Santiago.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was trying to contact the Santiago-based U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean for an assessment of the earthquake and information on staffers.

As recovery efforts continued in Chile, threat of a tsunami loomed.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a 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."

California and Alaska were under a tsunami advisory.

"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," the National Weather Service said in a statement.

USGS geophysicist Victor Sardina said several tsunami waves had come ashore along the Chilean coast; the largest was recorded at 9 feet near the quake's epicenter.

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. Outdoor siren systems in each Hawaiian county sounded simultaneously to alert residents and visitors to evacuate coastal areas.

Saturday's temblor comes 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.

CNN Chile suffered damage to its broadcast facilities, although it is still actively newsgathering.

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."

All but two U.S. Embassy personnel in Chile are accounted for, the U.S. State Department said. No decision has been made about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's planned trip next week to five Latin American countries, including Chile.

Coastal Chile has a history of deadly earthquakes, according to the USGS. Since 1973, there have been 13 quakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher.

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.

[Zerozx]

36th major aftershock, magnitude 5.6, centered off Bio-Bio shore of Chile - U.S. Geological Survey