Tsunami warning in effect - NOW

[TOTO]

Just heard on the TV news that there is Tsunami warning in effect due to a strong 7.9 - 8.3 magnitude earthquake that hit this morning in the pacific.

If there is a tsunami it is expected to hit East Cape around 9 and Auckland around 11. If you live on the coast, you may wanna move somewhere.

This is a serious stuff so please take this seriously people.


A tsunami warning was posted for a swath of the South Pacific today after a magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck near Pago Pago, American Samoa, U.S. agencies reported.

The quake struck shortly before 7 a.m. local time about 122 miles (196 kilometers) from Pago Pago, said the U.S. Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said warnings for tsunami activity were posted for Fiji, New Zealand, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Samoa, American Samoa and a half-dozen other island nations.


LATEST: Two villages in Samoa have just been hit by a tsunami, unconfirmed reports from Samoa radio say.

Polynesia Radio in Apia told Stuff that they were receiving reports from Siumu and Lotofago that a tsunami had come ashore.

Both are on the south side of Upolu island, exposed to the area where a strong 8.3 magnitude earthquake hit this morning.

The earthquake, at a depth of 35 kilometres, was centred 205 kilometres south of the Samoan capital of Apia, and 2685 kilometres north east of Auckland. It struck at 6.48am New Zealand time.

Radio Polynesia said the quake lasted for up to a minute and tsunami sirens had been sounded and tsunami phone text warnings were issued.

"Lots of people are heading for the high ground now," a station staffer said.

CNN in Hawaii is quoting Chip McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in saying that the quake generated a three metre - measured from crest to trough - tsunami.

The Center has issued a tsunami warning and watch in effect of American Samoa, Samo, Niue, Wallis-Futuna, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji, New Zealand and French Polynesia.

In its evaluation the centre says it is not known that a tsunami was generated.

"This warning is based only on the earthquake evaluation," the centre said.

"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicentre within minutes and more distance coastlines within hours."

Authorities in various countries have been told to "take appropriate action in response to this possibility".

It a tsunami was generated it will have hit Pago Pago, American Samoa, around now.

The center says a possible tsunami could reach New Zealand's East Cape at 9.44am and Gisborne at 10am.

Other centres, including Napier, Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton are also warned to be alert.

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management has issued a tsunami warning for all of New Zealand following the earthquake.

The ministry is advising people to continue checking news sources for further information.

Ministry spokesperson Vince Cholewa said it was assessing information being recieved from around the Pacific, but based on the size of the quake and the history of eathquakes in the region it is unlikely there would be a tsunami that would be a risk to New Zealand.


(CNN) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 struck in the Samoan Islands region Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The temblor generated a nearly 10-foot (3-meter) tsunami -- measured from crest to trough -- according to preliminary data, said Chip McCreery, the director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

A tsunami warning was in effect for American Samoa, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji, among others in the South Pacific archipelago, according to a bulletin from the center.

A tsunami watch was issued for islands farther from the epicenter, including Hawaii and Papua New Guinea.

Officials were determining whether the tsunami could reach Hawaii, the center said.

The quake is not expected to generate a tsunami along the west coast of the United States or Canada, according to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

Further details were not immediately available.

There were no immediate reports of damage.
The quake was recorded at 6:48 a.m. (1:28 p.m. ET) at a depth of about 7.4 miles (11.9 km), the USGS reported.

[Indiana_Jones]

<img src="http://cdn1.knowyourmeme.com/i/3374/original/Cool_story_bro_.jpg">

-Indy

[MisterD]

9.44 at East Cape apparently, those of you on the East Coast should be hearing the warning sirens about now...

"Unconfirmed reports" of deaths in Samoa, maybe not a false alarm this time....

[wbks]

Sounds like a big fuss for a 3 meter wave

[Usarka]

Sounds like a big fuss for a 3 meter wave

It was 3 meters at American Samoa. Don't tsunami's get bigger as they travel?

http://ll.broadbandsports.com/images/12052_thumb.jpg

[wbks]

It was 3 meters at American Samoa. Don't tsunami's get bigger as they travel?
Yea, but I'm picking it's going to be a little flooding along the coast, like coro a few years back. Just give them new wooden furniture and they're good as new:2thumbsup If worst comes to worst, I've been meaning to practice my backstroke, anyway

[PirateJafa]

Lol at Aucklanders panicking. Fucks sake you smacktards, considering that we have Great Barrier Island, Little Barrier, the Coromandel and of course Rangitoto/Waiheke/Motutapu Islands protecting us from the open sea, what the fuck are you all scared of?

On the bright side, hopefully there'll be no queue at Subway at 11am then!

[wbks]

They just said they expect a 1meter wave...

[Slyer]

Wow. A 1 metre wave.
This are serious business.

[firefighter]

Lol at Aucklanders panicking.

Who? Where? I have'nt seen anyone but Paul Henry panic.......

Where did you see these people? :wacko:

At least this rain makes a good change.......

[TOTO]

Wow. A 1 metre wave.
This are serious business.

the one in 2004 was not much bigger than 1 metre, yet how many hundreds of thousands died ?

[BiK3RChiK]

Well, I'm glad I chose yesterday to pick up the BOP Tag! :calm:

[CookMySock]

Sirens sounding at Ohope. Off for a look hehe.

Steve

[PirateJafa]

Who? Where? I have'nt seen anyone but Paul Henry panic.......

Where did you see these people? :wacko:

At least this rain makes a good change.......

I was just woken up by a KBer calling me, going ZOMG BRO TSUNAMIIIII. I could be asleep now, dammit!


They just said they expect a 1meter wave...

Well, as the current forecast for the inner harbour is already moderate seas (~1m) and from Bream Head to Cape Colville to be rough seas (~3m), it's good to see we'll be able to tell it apart from the rest.

[BiK3RChiK]

Sirens sounding at Ohope. Off for a look hehe.

Steve

Should be a good view from the top of Otarawairere.... that's if most of Ohope is not already there!;)

[vifferman]

It was 3 meters at American Samoa. Don't tsunami's get bigger as they travel?
No - why should they?
What does happen is that in the open sea, a tsunami is felt as just a swell, as it has a very long wavelength, but small amplitude. As the wave approaches the coastline, the shallowing water causes the wave to "feel" the bottom and the wavelength effectively reduces but the height increases - sort of a concertina effect.
However (but!) there are frictional losses and interference from other waveforms, reflection, etc., so most tsunamis dissipate during their travel.

[Usarka]

Sirens sounding at Ohope. Off for a look hehe.

Steve

Make the most of the opportunity - if the tide goes out, go out and pickup lots of seafood.

[vifferman]

Sirens sounding at Ohope. Off for a look hehe.
Yeah - run down to the sea and go, "OMIGOD - the water's all rushed away!" Then run down to pick up the floundering fish and get smacked by the wave.
Well... that's what might happen if it was a significant tsunami - as the wave height increases it sucks water from the shallow water.

[Swoop]

Mother Nature has given birth to a big wave.
Happy Birthday little Sunami!:hug:

[BiK3RChiK]

Hahaha... the air force has had a base at Whakatane Airport right on the coast for just over a week..... wonder if they are scrambling all their planes right about now!?.....

[Morcs]

Oh crap my house is practically on the water...

Ah well, will find out what the deal is when i get home.

[BiK3RChiK]

Whakatane Coastguard Webcam live streaming video....

http://www.coastguardwhakatane.co.nz/barcam.htm

[Stirts]

Just heard Pauanui has been evacuated.

Get your floaties on people!!

[MSTRS]

Wow. A 1 metre wave.
This are serious business.

Better believe it. 'Normal' waves are not the leading edge of a pressure wave (like what you see in those aerial films of bomb explosions) nor do they travel at 100's KPH, nor do they continue to be forced inland by the following forces.

[TOTO]

I've got rubber ducks stuffed in my pockets, nothing can go wrong now :D

[wbks]

Just heard Pauanui has been evacuated.

Get your floaties on people!!Time to rob some rich people!

[Dean]

Anyone wanna meet up at the surf beach in orewa then ride along the sand and drag eachother when the waves come in. If you own a way faster bike I get a headstart, or Ill push you over in the water.

[Matt Bleck]

Better believe it. 'Normal' waves are not the leading edge of a pressure wave (like what you see in those aerial films of bomb explosions) nor do they travel at 100's KPH, nor do they continue to be forced inland by the following forces.
and that seem's to be the part that people don't get... how high was the one that hit Bali? less than a meter?

[MSTRS]

and that seem's to be the part that people don't get... how high was the one that hit Bali? less than a meter?

If that. The biggest problem that Tsunamis create is when they are finished moving inland, and suck back out.

[kevfromcoro]

Just been down the beach....

not a ripple to be seen

[CookMySock]

:Oops: ........This is BiK3RChiK!..... wrong account:whistle:

Oh my! Look at those idiots on the Coastguard webcam! They must be out of their minds!!! Stuffed if I'd be standing anywhere near those rocks...

[firefighter]

Soooooo.......the tsunami should have hit now right? 0944 was the time for the east cape was it not?

[Kiwi Graham]

So do you rekon I should take the short board or the Mal?

[wbks]

Anyone wanna meet up at the surf beach in orewa then ride along the sand and drag eachother when the waves come in. If you own a way faster bike I get a headstart, or Ill push you over in the water.Wana come down to the Coromandel and we can both race from the northern end to Thames and high ground before the wave reaches. Looser takes a long swim. Coro-GP: High speeds, High tide... High stakes

Freaking epic

[Dean]

Change of plans ill be at stanmore bay beach down from the viponds dairy at 11 come down ow man up. Over and out

[Tony.OK]

They've blocked the roads outside my place, Marine Parade is having all traffic diverted......................I'm at home with no car or bike:whistle:

It is a nice day for a swim though:yes:

[Dean]

Wana come down to the Coromandel and we can both race from the northern end to Thames and high ground before the wave reaches. Looser takes a long swim. Coro-GP: High speeds, High tide... High stakes

Freaking epic

Id own you wbks your a noob on a 250 what do you expect........oh wait thats me! gotta go.

[wbks]

They've blocked the roads outside my place, Marine Parade is having all traffic diverted......................I'm at home with no car or bike:whistle:

It is a nice day for a swim though:yes:Those two long danggly things below you vagina are called legs, use them:girlfight:

[Tony.OK]

Those two long danggly things below you vagina are called legs, use them:girlfight:

Shit if I had one 'o' those between my legs I could think of better things to do than go for a walk:2thumbsup

[Naki Rat]

:Oops: ........This is BiK3RChiK!..... wrong account:whistle:

Oh my! Look at those idiots on the Coastguard webcam! They must be out of their minds!!! Stuffed if I'd be standing anywhere near those rocks...

I've been checking out the Mt Maunganui beach webcam. Same, no tsunami but lots of spectators :slap::doh:

[Slyer]

BREAKING NEWS: Chatham Islands report no tsunami... details soon
Lol, what details?

[CookMySock]

I've been checking out the Mt Maunganui beach webcam. Same, no tsunami but lots of spectators :slap::doh:

Yeah... on the Whakatane webcam, you can see the Whitebaiters out there scooping!:eek:

[MadDuck]

Change of plans ill be at stanmore bay beach down from the viponds dairy at 11 come down ow man up. Over and out

Good place to go for a look-see....:whistle: Dont forget your kite!

There is no panic. The Council via the loacal radio have asked residents of Hatfields, Waiwera, Point Wells, Snells, Algies, Whangateau and sea side of Orewa to move to higher ground.

But no doubt most will head down for a nosey instead.

[Morcs]

Apparently the wave might get bigger by the time it hits auckland and wellington :wacko:

[BiK3RChiK]

Hot off the press...


Tsunami Warning CANCELLED

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/

[Pixie]

the one in 2004 was not much bigger than 1 metre, yet how many hundreds of thousands died ?

Tsunami are long period waves.The crest can be kilometres long.This is why a 1 metre wave did so much damage

[CookMySock]

Wankers. Cancelled it at the last second. The local Thornton beach unofficial harbour master was down there advising that it was travelling at EIGHT HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!!! :weird: and we should LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY or there would be no insurance and he would take our registration number. So we stayed, lol.

Steve

[Madmax]

Ive been knocked over by bigger waves surfcasting
at waihi beach,
i spent my time giving my reels a long overdue service
:whistle:

[vifferman]

The local Thornton beach unofficial harbour master was down there advising that it was travelling at EIGHT HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!!! :weird:
They can propagate at close to that speed - depends on the depth of water and size of the event that initiated it. Of course, NZ has a fairly shallow continental shelf, so once it got close, it would slow down a lot as the wave "felt bottom".

Check it out for yourself - google "tsunami speed" (although it's actually technically the velocity).

[NighthawkNZ]

Tsunamis can travel over 600 mph in the open ocean. It can only take a few hours for a tsunami to travel across an entire ocean. A regular wave travels at 90 km/hr.

[Swoop]

The wave did not arrive because it heard that nobody would wave back at it...:weep:

[Fatt Max]

Dont know about Tsunamis, but we've just had a bit of a poo-nami here at work, fucking drain pipe in the bogs has split and there are turds everywhere...!!!

[slofox]

The wave did not arrive because it heard that nobody would wave back at it...:weep:

I heard it was because it was riding a Harley and didn't want to wave back...

[Indiana_Jones]

Dont know about Tsunamis, but we've just had a bit of a poo-nami here at work, fucking drain pipe in the bogs has split and there are turds everywhere...!!!

:2thumbsup

-Indy

[Swoop]

I heard it was because it was riding a Harley and didn't want to wave back...

If that is the case, it was probably delayed by all of the chrome polishing and tassle combing that had to be done. Don't want to show up looking scruffy...

[R6_kid]

My friend and her boyfriend were driving down the road when the Earthquake hit. The hotel where they were staying has been completely destroyed - they only have the clothes they are wearing and their passports.

Current death toll is 5.

[Blackbird]

My friend and her boyfriend were driving down the road when the Earthquake hit. The hotel where they were staying has been completely destroyed - they only have the clothes they are wearing and their passports.

Current death toll is 5.

Our eldest son and family are there - haven't heard from them yet so trying not to panic while we get more details.

[Patrick]

Hahaha... the air force has had a base at Whakatane Airport right on the coast for just over a week..... wonder if they are scrambling all their planes right about now!?.....

Wot? All two of em...? The Orion and that other one.... what was it? A Cessna?


Wankers. Cancelled it at the last second. The local Thornton beach unofficial harbour master was down there advising that it was travelling at EIGHT HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!!! :weird: and we should LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY or there would be no insurance and he would take our registration number. So we stayed, lol.

Steve

I think he meant 800kmph. They travel at about 500mph in the open sea and slow down as approaching land, where they build up....

Last I heard was a 1 metre wave was detected off Raoul Island and the alert was all on again at mid day ish.....

No update sounds like good news.

[Patrick]

Our eldest son and family are there - haven't heard from them yet so trying not to panic while we get more details.

Should be someone available to contact at MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington....)

Fingers crossed for good news.......

[Mom]

Well that was an exciting day. Dont ever underestimate the power of nature in these situations. When I went to work this morning they were evacuating homes at sea level all around here. We have many beaches. All of Omaha was emptied, Whangateau, Baddeleys, Campbells, Snells, Algies, Martins you name it they were moving people out. The roads were full of cars stopped on ridgelines above Omaha, quite a spectacle really. Our helicopters were put on standby by Civil Defense, so we followed things very closely.

I am so pleased that nothing came of the warnings, though Raoull Island has reported a 1 metre increase in the sea level, which may or may not result in some good waves at the beaches. We are still being advised to stay away from them. The weather has been settled if a bit windy most of the day, but we currently have a howling gale and driving rain (no thunder and lightening though bugger it). The reports were being received regularly, 40cm waves here, 90 cm waves there.

Easy to laugh about these things when it pans out to be not as bad as they could have been. I for one would like to take my hat off to everyone today that spent that time advising us what to do and working to attempt to keep us safe. Seems the planning has been worthwhile. I would far rather have to leave my home for a couple of hours than not be told and left to survive best I can. I live on a big hill, chances of me being affected personally nil, for all the others that live around here at sea level, I am yet to talk to anyone that is pissed off about having to leave.

[Blackbird]

Should be someone available to contact at MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington....)

Fingers crossed for good news.......

Yep, thanks. Have registered with Foreign Affairs and they're relaying the names to Apia

[Mom]

Our eldest son and family are there - haven't heard from them yet so trying not to panic while we get more details.

I am sure that communications from Samoa are severely affected by what has happened, and they have simply not been able to contact you. How very worrying for you. Please let us know when you hear they are safe.

[Str8 Jacket]

It's funny how people will complain about anything and everything. If MCDEM had not placed a severe danger warning and we did lose many lifes and those people wouldn't be here to tell us how silly that warning was. Murphy's Law really.

[SARGE]

Hahaha... the air force has had a base at Whakatane Airport right on the coast for just over a week..... wonder if they are scrambling all their planes right about now!?.....

they have planes?????


i was at the Ports of Auckland when the alert sounded .. they evac'd quite a bit of it and all we got was a 400mm tsunami


gutted.. i had a big wooden ramp and an evil grin:argh:

[Jantar]

I took a ride down to Toko Mouth to watch it hit. It was small but spectacular to watch how a seismic wave develops.

The attached photo shows just how high it came up the sand dunes. (and NO, I didn't stand on the dunes when it hit, I was on higher ground.)

[wbks]

Yep, thanks. Have registered with Foreign Affairs and they're relaying the names to ApiaGood luck!

[BiK3RChiK]

A very sad day for Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.... One probably that will be etched in the minds of survivors. Thoughts are with everyone affected. I hope you have good news Blackbird...

[Oakie]

Seems like it has taken out the resort we stayed at in Samoa a couple of winters ago (Coconuts). Saw their 'Coconuts Beach Club' sign covered in debris on the news tonight and recall that the sign is probably the farthest part of the resort from the ocean and a bit higher than the rest of it. Sad.

[Maha]

Is this another 'Wave' thread??...........:calm:

[Patrick]

Yep, thanks. Have registered with Foreign Affairs and they're relaying the names to Apia

Anything I can do, let me know..... I know some people.........................:2thumbsup


Please let us know when you hear they are safe.

+1 for sure..............

[jaymzw]

Im just thinking out loud here but id like to make a point

Why is it that when a country like Samoa suffers loss of life due to natural disaster (only 10 confirmed so far) it is such a big deal, however less than half a world away during the same week 250 people lost their lives in the Philippines to flooding and it is bairly mentioned in the news.

Both third world countries, both in serious need of aid. Yet one is almost completely overshadowed by the other that is in comparison completely insignificant.

Just food for thought

[Indiana_Jones]

Im just thinking out loud here but id like to make a point

Why is it that when a country like Samoa suffers loss of life due to natural disaster (only 10 confirmed so far) it is such a big deal, however less than half a world away during the same week 250 people lost their lives in the Philippines to flooding and it is bairly mentioned in the news.

Both third world countries, both in serious need of aid. Yet one is almost completely overshadowed by the other that is in comparison completely insignificant.

Just food for thought

filipinos smell?

-Indy

[MaxB]

Im just thinking out loud here but id like to make a point

Why is it that when a country like Samoa suffers loss of life due to natural disaster (only 10 confirmed so far) it is such a big deal, however less than half a world away during the same week 250 people lost their lives in the Philippines to flooding and it is bairly mentioned in the news.

Both third world countries, both in serious need of aid. Yet one is almost completely overshadowed by the other that is in comparison completely insignificant.

Just food for thought

Think it might have something to do with connections. We have more connection to Samoa than to the Phillippines.

Didn't we used to run the place until 1962?

[Ronin]

Im just thinking out loud here but id like to make a point

Why is it that when a country like Samoa suffers loss of life due to natural disaster (only 10 confirmed so far) it is such a big deal, however less than half a world away during the same week 250 people lost their lives in the Philippines to flooding and it is bairly mentioned in the news.

Both third world countries, both in serious need of aid. Yet one is almost completely overshadowed by the other that is in comparison completely insignificant.

Just food for thought

We don't have the largest Philipino city in the world here?

[wbks]

We don't have the largest Philipino city in the world here?What this guy said


filipinos smell?

-IndyFilipinos are good people! In my experience, always friendly and work twice as hard as any NZer worker when they come over here for a career:hug:


Im just thinking out loud here but id like to make a point

Why is it that when a country like Samoa suffers loss of life due to natural disaster (only 10 confirmed so far) it is such a big deal, however less than half a world away during the same week 250 people lost their lives in the Philippines to flooding and it is bairly mentioned in the news.

Both third world countries, both in serious need of aid. Yet one is almost completely overshadowed by the other that is in comparison completely insignificant.

Just food for thoughtLike the other guy said, it has to be connections.

[jaymzw]

What this guy said

Filipinos are good people! In my experience, always friendly and work twice as hard as any NZer worker when they come over here for a career:hug:

Like the other guy said, it has to be connections.

Yeah this must be right. Obviously New Zealand has an interest in the sustained improvement of the Samoan Economy so it would affect us more. Plus we were technically effected by the same Tsunami. Hence more news coverage.

I just found it interesting about the amount of news coverage the item in the Philippines got here. Just thought id bring it up because my Girlfriends best friends mother was killed in that flooding and she didnt know it had even happened until i saw it on the internet:crazy:

[kevfromcoro]

got a txt from my daughter in oz..
was worried.. thought NZ was under water.
must of been on the news over there
something has happened in Indonesia now
anyone got an update?

[R6_kid]

My friend was staying on the beach at Lalomanu where the tsunami hit hardest. Apparently she'd had a dream about an earthquake the night before and had already thought of where they would go.

When the earthquake hit they got in the car and drove 15km in 6minutes to get to higher ground. Apparently they could hear the wave crashing through and all the people screaming. From what I understand they were the only ones to get out of the resort in time. They were evacuated to Auckland and got home to Wellington at 7am this morning. Needless to say she's a bit distraught and not too happy after what she saw and experienced.

[Dean]

something has happened in Indonesia now
anyone got an update?

Snap what happened?

[Indiana_Jones]

Filipinos are good people! In my experience, always friendly and work twice as hard as any NZer worker when they come over here for a career:hug:


No agruement there!

Though OSH would have a field day with most of the Filipinos I've seen on worksites lol

-Indy