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**AmericaAirline 111** · 10-09-2009, 09:33 AM

http://www.theage.com.au/world/tsuna...1008-gnrv.html

Tsunami panic as new quakes rock South Pacific
October 8, 2009

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Quake and tsunami warning

An earthquake near Vanuatu triggers a tsunami warning in the Pacific.

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More aftershocks are expected in coming days after a series of powerful earthquakes triggered a tsunami alert for much of the South Pacific, including Australia’s northeast coast.

The latest tremors caused panic on many of the region’s remote islands just days after 184 people were killed when giant waves, whipped up by another earthquake, smashed into Samoa and neighbouring islands.

A warning was issued today by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre for some 25 countries and territories stretching as far as Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.

View October 8 Pacific quakes in a larger map

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami watch for areas off the north Queensland coast but cancelled the alert after more detailed analysis.

The first of three earthquakes struck about 500 km northwest of Vanuatu at 9.03am (AEDT), prompting thousands of people on remote islands to flee to higher ground.

Geoscience Australia said the large ‘‘potentially tsunamigenic’’ magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 38 km below the seabed and was followed by a series of strong aftershocks.

The two largest aftershocks were recorded at magnitudes of 7.4 and 6.8, occurring at 9.19am and 10.13am respectively.

However, the quakes produced only a small tsunami, with waves of just three to 10 centimetres recorded. Experts said serious damage was unlikely.

Geoscience Australia’s senior seismologist, Dr Phil Cummins, said the absence of damage was not unexpected as the closest areas of significant population were outside the range of impact.

‘‘Following this size earthquake we would expect to see a number of aftershocks in the coming days, and possibly weeks, gradually reducing in size and frequency’’, Dr Cummins said.

Authorities in Vanuatu said conditions around the archipelago were calm and that people in offices and resorts who moved to higher ground had since returned.

The Vanuatu Tourism Office said there was some minor structural damage on the island of Espiritu Santo but no reports of fatalities or injuries.

There were no reports of damage in the capital Port Vila or on Efate Island and there had been no effect on tourism operations.

Air Vanuatu said it would maintain normal services.

The airline’s Australian manager, Malcolm Pryor, said he was not aware of anyone who had booked with Air Vanuatu cancelling their travel plans.

‘‘Passengers that were booked today all elected to travel,’’ he said.

The latest earthquakes follow those that impacted on the Samoa region and Indonesia last week. A 7.6-magnitude quake off the western coast of Sumatra killed more than 1000 people and left half a million homeless.

Dr Cummins said it was remarkable to have so many large earthquakes over such a short space of time, adding that while they were related as part of the Earth’s ongoing dynamic processes, there was no direct connection.

‘‘This earthquake occurred where the Australian plate slides beneath the Pacific Plate and releases stress which builds up due to this process,’’ he said.

‘‘Earthquakes will continue to occur at the boundaries of the Australian Plate as it pushes slowly northeast at approximately seven centimetres per year, resulting in collisions with the Pacific, Eurasian and Philippine plates.’’

AAP

10-09-2009, 09:33 AM	#2
AmericaAirline 111 Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 443 Senior Member	http://www.theage.com.au/world/tsuna...1008-gnrv.html Tsunami panic as new quakes rock South Pacific October 8, 2009 Loading player This video will automatically play after a 5 second delay. Video will begin in 5 seconds. * Stop * Play now Return to video Video settings What type of connection do you have? Video settings form 1. Automatically detect my connection speed (recommended) 2. 56K modem 3. Home broadband (100+ Kb/s) 4. Medium-speed broadband (300+ Kb/s) 5. High-speed broadband (600+ Kb/s) 6. Note: A cookie will be set to keep your preferences. Return to video Video feedback Use this form to: * Ask for technical assistance in playing the multimedia available on this site, or * Provide feedback to the multimedia producers. Video feedback form 1. Name 2. Email 3. Subject 4. Comments 5. Return to video Video feedback Thank you. Your feedback was successfully sent. More video Recommended * Thumbnail image for video asset. Play video ATC jokes about 'dead cat' * Thumbnail image for video asset. Play video Tsunami fears strike again * Thumbnail image for video asset. Play video 'Spiderman' scales building * Thumbnail image for video asset. Play video Obama backs scientific discovery Replay video Quake and tsunami warning An earthquake near Vanuatu triggers a tsunami warning in the Pacific. * Video feedback * Video settings More aftershocks are expected in coming days after a series of powerful earthquakes triggered a tsunami alert for much of the South Pacific, including Australia’s northeast coast. The latest tremors caused panic on many of the region’s remote islands just days after 184 people were killed when giant waves, whipped up by another earthquake, smashed into Samoa and neighbouring islands. A warning was issued today by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre for some 25 countries and territories stretching as far as Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. View October 8 Pacific quakes in a larger map The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami watch for areas off the north Queensland coast but cancelled the alert after more detailed analysis. The first of three earthquakes struck about 500 km northwest of Vanuatu at 9.03am (AEDT), prompting thousands of people on remote islands to flee to higher ground. Geoscience Australia said the large ‘‘potentially tsunamigenic’’ magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 38 km below the seabed and was followed by a series of strong aftershocks. The two largest aftershocks were recorded at magnitudes of 7.4 and 6.8, occurring at 9.19am and 10.13am respectively. However, the quakes produced only a small tsunami, with waves of just three to 10 centimetres recorded. Experts said serious damage was unlikely. Geoscience Australia’s senior seismologist, Dr Phil Cummins, said the absence of damage was not unexpected as the closest areas of significant population were outside the range of impact. ‘‘Following this size earthquake we would expect to see a number of aftershocks in the coming days, and possibly weeks, gradually reducing in size and frequency’’, Dr Cummins said. Authorities in Vanuatu said conditions around the archipelago were calm and that people in offices and resorts who moved to higher ground had since returned. The Vanuatu Tourism Office said there was some minor structural damage on the island of Espiritu Santo but no reports of fatalities or injuries. There were no reports of damage in the capital Port Vila or on Efate Island and there had been no effect on tourism operations. Air Vanuatu said it would maintain normal services. The airline’s Australian manager, Malcolm Pryor, said he was not aware of anyone who had booked with Air Vanuatu cancelling their travel plans. ‘‘Passengers that were booked today all elected to travel,’’ he said. The latest earthquakes follow those that impacted on the Samoa region and Indonesia last week. A 7.6-magnitude quake off the western coast of Sumatra killed more than 1000 people and left half a million homeless. Dr Cummins said it was remarkable to have so many large earthquakes over such a short space of time, adding that while they were related as part of the Earth’s ongoing dynamic processes, there was no direct connection. ‘‘This earthquake occurred where the Australian plate slides beneath the Pacific Plate and releases stress which builds up due to this process,’’ he said. ‘‘Earthquakes will continue to occur at the boundaries of the Australian Plate as it pushes slowly northeast at approximately seven centimetres per year, resulting in collisions with the Pacific, Eurasian and Philippine plates.’’ AAP
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