Tsunami warning
HONOLULU (CNN) -- A tsunami warning was issued Saturday for Japan and a broad area surrounding the Pacific Ocean, including Alaska, after a major undersea earthquake east of the Kuril Islands, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.
Tsunami waves between 1 (3 feet) and 2 meters were possible at about 2 p.m. local time near Hokkaido, Japan and other areas of Japan's northern island, according to another warning from the Japan Meteorology Agency.
Half-meter waves were possible along Japan's coast south of Hokkaido, the agency said.
The earthquake was measured at a massive 8.4 magnitude at 11:23 p.m. ET, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center bulletin said.
"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 bulletin said.
The West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said its tsunami warning includes the Alaska coastal areas from Nikolski, Alaska to Attu, Alaska. It also issued a tsunami watch for the Alaska coastal areas from Seward, Alaska to Nikolski, Alaska.
The center said a tsunami warning means that all coastal residents in the warning area who are near the beach or in low-lying regions should move immediately inland to higher ground and away from all harbors and inlets including those sheltered directly from the sea. It said all coastal residents in the tsunami watch area should prepare for possible evacuation.
Sirens were sounded in Kushiro, Japan, although city officials said they have seen no signs of rising water. Most residents are staying home and some have sought shelter in public buildings on high ground, officials said.
In November, a tsunami warning was issued after an 8.3-magnitude earthquake in a nearby area. Large waves were reported hours later in Hawaii and on the western coast of the United States, including a 6-foot wave in Crescent City, California.
A wave measuring about 40 centimeters (16 inches) did wash up on some eastern Pacific coastal areas of Japan, officials there said in November, but nothing like the wave of almost 2 meters (about 6 feet) that had been predicted as a possibility.
A 9.1-magnitude quake off the coast of Indonesia on December 26, 2004 caused a tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in 11 countries.
And a tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.3 offshore earthquake struck Hokkaido on September 25, 2003, injuring 589 people and causing significant damage to the port and coastal communities, according to the archives of the U.S. Geological Survey
Tsunami waves between 1 (3 feet) and 2 meters were possible at about 2 p.m. local time near Hokkaido, Japan and other areas of Japan's northern island, according to another warning from the Japan Meteorology Agency.
Half-meter waves were possible along Japan's coast south of Hokkaido, the agency said.
The earthquake was measured at a massive 8.4 magnitude at 11:23 p.m. ET, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center bulletin said.
"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 bulletin said.
The West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said its tsunami warning includes the Alaska coastal areas from Nikolski, Alaska to Attu, Alaska. It also issued a tsunami watch for the Alaska coastal areas from Seward, Alaska to Nikolski, Alaska.
The center said a tsunami warning means that all coastal residents in the warning area who are near the beach or in low-lying regions should move immediately inland to higher ground and away from all harbors and inlets including those sheltered directly from the sea. It said all coastal residents in the tsunami watch area should prepare for possible evacuation.
Sirens were sounded in Kushiro, Japan, although city officials said they have seen no signs of rising water. Most residents are staying home and some have sought shelter in public buildings on high ground, officials said.
In November, a tsunami warning was issued after an 8.3-magnitude earthquake in a nearby area. Large waves were reported hours later in Hawaii and on the western coast of the United States, including a 6-foot wave in Crescent City, California.
A wave measuring about 40 centimeters (16 inches) did wash up on some eastern Pacific coastal areas of Japan, officials there said in November, but nothing like the wave of almost 2 meters (about 6 feet) that had been predicted as a possibility.
A 9.1-magnitude quake off the coast of Indonesia on December 26, 2004 caused a tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in 11 countries.
And a tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.3 offshore earthquake struck Hokkaido on September 25, 2003, injuring 589 people and causing significant damage to the port and coastal communities, according to the archives of the U.S. Geological Survey
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The answer to the Tsunami problem does not have to be high tech or expensive!
Simply post a sign on the beach with a large arrow pointing away from the ocean with this advice: Tsunami coming, run this way.
Seems as though MANY people, including children, were advised to go down to ocean and watch the tsunami just before it struck [V]
njretcop@copmail.com
Charlie0 -
Glad I live in the North GA mountains. 0 -
If it reaches you up there, we are all screwed. 0
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