Magnitude 7.9 - SAMOA ISLANDS - Death toll could reach 200

[Cryomaniac]

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/rec ... 09mdbi.php

There's a tsunami warning for surrounding area, but I can't get the link to work at the moment:

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/?region=1& ... .29.180334

Tsunami watch for Hawaii:

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/?region=2& ... .29.180549

[srainhoutx]

MAG UTC DATE-TIME
y/m/d h:m:s LAT
deg LON
deg DEPTH
km Region
MAP 3.2 2009/09/29 18:06:35 61.576 -150.572 56.4 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 7.9 2009/09/29 17:48:14 -15.554 -172.141 35.0 SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
MAP 4.7 2009/09/29 17:21:45 41.578 141.997 65.7 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
MAP 2.5 2009/09/29 14:43:30 60.481 -152.535 122.7 SOUTHERN ALASKA
MAP 2.7 2009/09/29 14:40:19 57.091 -155.560 56.2 ALASKA PENINSULA
MAP 3.3 2009/09/29 13:54:29 19.294 -68.243 10.7 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REGION
MAP 3.7 2009/09/29 13:38:52 19.349 -68.939 0.0 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REGION
MAP 4.5 2009/09/29 12:03:20 43.503 144.782 10.0 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
MAP 3.1 2009/09/29 11:37:23 60.522 -151.434 49.4 KENAI PENINSULA, ALASKA
MAP 2.5 2009/09/29 11:14:33 54.505 -163.796 92.8 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
MAP 2.5 2009/09/29 10:37:47 19.015 -66.811 24.0 PUERTO RICO REGION
MAP 3.0 2009/09/29 10:18:46 64.952 -139.167 0.0 SOUTHERN YUKON TERRITORY, CANADA
MAP 3.6 2009/09/29 09:58:12 54.818 -159.939 48.7 SOUTH OF ALASKA
MAP 2.7 2009/09/29 09:56:34 52.980 -168.778 18.7 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA
MAP 4.8 2009/09/29 09:14:06 -7.019 129.557 161.9 KEPULAUAN BABAR, INDONESIA
MAP 2.7 2009/09/29 08:10:03 18.599 -65.566 62.6 PUERTO RICO REGION
MAP 5.0 2009/09/29 06:01:14 30.939 83.485 10.0 WESTERN XIZANG
MAP 2.6 2009/09/29 05:17:00 32.253 -115.308 6.0 BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
MAP 2.6 2009/09/29 02:49:55 18.080 -66.073 19.7 PUERTO RICO
MAP 3.0 2009/09/29 02:14:27 19.260 -66.474 25.1 PUERTO RICO REGION
MAP 4.7 2009/09/29 02:04:09 -5.194 100.893 31.3 SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA
MAP 3.9 2009/09/29 01:47:59 19.991 -64.617 45.9 NORTH OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

[somethingfunny]

CNN is reporting a 10-foot tsunami was generated. Warnings are up for American Samoa, the nation of Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, and New Zealand. Watches for Papua New Guinea and Hawaii...not expected to reach the US West Coast.

Also the quake has apparently been upgraded to an 8.3 magnitude.

[srainhoutx]

Bouy Data....

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

[somethingfunny]

As usual during a developing situation, different news outlets have different accounts:

Reuters:

The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said that a tsunami had been observed at Apia, Western Samoa, and at Pago Pago, American Samoa. The waves at Pago Pago were 5.1 feet (1.57 metres) above normal sea level.

MSNBC:

The representative from American Samoa to the U.S. Congress, Eni Faleomavaega, told NBC News that quake hit between the North Marianas Islands and American Samoa, creating 10 to 15- foot waves in populated low-lying areas like Pago Pago Bay.

"Cars were seen floating," the congressman said of Pago Pago Bay.

[vbhoutex]

Bouy Data....

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

Unless I am reading something wrong the Tsunami is showing up on some of the buoys. NSTP6(Pago Pago)showed a 6 foot wave, if I read it correctly.

[somethingfunny]

I'm watching CNN International now...their weatherman is saying he can confirm a measurement of a 7 meter tsunami that has hit Samoa. Not sure where he got that from but the anchorwoman made him repeat that several times because it was the first she had heard of it as well. The newswires are lighting up with damage reports now although I'd say the actual height of the tsunami is still suspect. For all we know the weatherman might have his foot in his mouth after intending to say seven feet.

[HURAKAN]

Pacific tsunami kills people in W.Samoa - police

Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:17pm EDT
WELLINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A South Pacific tsunami killed an unknown number of people in Western Samoa on Wednesday, a local police spokeswoman said, as the island nation's people fled to higher ground after a big sub-sea quake.

"The tsunami has struck some parts of the country," a local police spokeswoman said by phone. Asked if there had been any deaths, she added: "Yes" and then hung up.

The epicenter of the 8.0 magnitude quake was located 120 miles (190 km) southwest of American Samoa, which lies near Western Samoa, the U.S. Geological Survey said. (Reporting by Adrian Bathgate, editing by Mark Bendeich)

[srainhoutx]

To: U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and British Columbia coastal regions
From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Subject: Tsunami Advisory #3 issued 09/29/2009 at 3:02PM PDT

A Tsunami Advisory is in effect which includes the coastal areas of California and Oregon from the California-Mexico border to the Oregon-Washington border.

This message is for Information Only for coastal areas of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska from the Oregon-Washington border to Attu, Alaska.

A Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is imminent or expected. Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2009/09/29/4 ... 649-03.htm

[Dionne]

Magnitude is now listed as 8.2 ...... if your at sea level in the advisory zone..... SEEK HIGH GROUND. Don't go down to the beach and watch..........

Remember what happened in Crescent City, CA........

[Dionne]

Second advisory just arrived. Busy next few hours.

Tsunami warning center is overloaded......will not open.

CNN reporting "event still unfolding"....

[HURAKAN]

Deadly tsunami in Pacific islands

A tsunami triggered by a strong quake in the South Pacific has killed at least 28 people in Samoa, say reports.

Samoa's delegate to the US Congress, Eni Faleomavaega, told AFP thousands of people had been left homeless.

Dr Lemalu Fiu, at a hospital in the Samoan capital, Apia, said the number of casualties was expected to rise as people arrived from coastal areas.

An 8.3-magnitude quake struck at 1748 GMT, generating 15ft (4.5m) waves in some areas of Samoa and American Samoa.

The Samoa islands comprise two separate entities - the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory - with a total population of about 250,000 people.

A tsunami warning was issued, but it has now been cancelled.

"Some of the areas there are only a few feet above sea level, so you can imagine the devastation," said Mr Faleomavaega.

"It caused severe damage to property, there are cars floating everywhere."

The Red Cross said at least 28 people had been killed in the region, reported AFP - 14 each in Samoa and American Samoa.

Talutala Mauala, Secretary General of the Red Cross in Samoa, said she was travelling to the country's south coast, where injuries had also been reported.

"We won't know the full extent of the damage until we get there and see for ourselves," she said.

Ms Mauala said it could take many months for people to rebuild their homes.

An Associated Press reporter said he had seen "bodies everywhere" in the main hospital in Lalomanu, on Samoa's main island of Upolu, including at least one child.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency has reported that three South Koreans were among the dead and one is still missing.

Beaches gone

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) said the quake struck at a depth of 33km (20 miles) some 190km from Apia. Waves of 5.1ft (1.57m) waves hit Apia and Pago Pago, American Samoa.

“ The water was swirling like a spa pool outwards [towards] the rim of the lagoon and in a few seconds the water sunk ”
Ula Osasa-Mano Eyewitness

Radio New Zealand quoted Samoan residents as saying that villages were inundated and homes and cars swept away.

"I can confirm there is damage, I can confirm there are deaths and I can confirm there are casualties," a Western Samoa police spokeswoman told Reuters.

"I cannot say any more at the moment."

Samoalive News said local radio stations had been receiving reported of high sea swells hitting coastal areas on the eastern and southern side of Upolu island

"School has been called off for the day with tsunami warnings calling for people to head to higher grounds," the website said.

Witnesses have reported scenes of destruction.

"It's horrible... The village is gone and my once beautiful beach front villa has now being submerged in water," Josh Nayangu told the BBC after fleeing the area on a small fishing boat with his wife and son.

Ula Osasa-Mano, who was visiting family on the island, told the BBC the water along the Apia seawall was turbulent.

"The water was kind of swirling like a spa pool outwards [towards] the rim of the lagoon and in a few seconds the water sunk," Ula Osasa-Mano said.

General alert

The PTWC - a branch of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - issued a general alert for the South Pacific region.

Stuart Weinstein, the deputy director of the PTWC, told the BBC that the agency was monitoring the situation, but said the wave was expected to be "much smaller" than the 2004 Asian tsunami which killed about 230,000 people in 11 countries.

Mr Weinstein said Tuesday's quake had only had 3% of the energy generated by the 2004 quake.

He said he expected the quake to be destructive in the areas closest to the epicentre, but said it "remains to be seen" how far any devastation would spread.

By 2200 GMT, the tsunami warning had been cancelled.

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Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/a ... 281616.stm

[HurricaneBill]

Death toll up to 82 and dozens are still missing.

Scores dead in tsunami in Pacific islands

This reminds me of the 2007 earthquake that caused a tsunami that struck the Solomon Islands.

[HURAKAN]

Quake triggers tsunami in the Samoas, killing 99

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 35,00.html

[HURAKAN]

111 people confirmed dead

http://www.examiner.com/x-19632-Salt-La ... ands-video

[HURAKAN]

119 dead

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... wD9B1ST1G1

[HURAKAN]

Images of the destruction:









More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... wD9B1ST1G1

[HurricaneBill]

Footage of the destruction in Leone, American Samoa

[HURAKAN]

158 dead and many remain missing. Death toll could pass 200

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsN ... 4920091001

[JonathanBelles]

Some sad news to report this afternoon for me. Phi Theta Kappa has its oldest chapter in the South Pacific in the American Samoa. Alpha Epsilon Mu was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami. American Samoa Community College - Pago Pago was hard hit by the Tsunami. Phi Theta Kappa is asking members to donate to the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-733-2767 or by visiting the website, and mentioning Phi Theta Kappa.

For those unaware, I am the Chapter Vice President of Leadership at my college, and a Leadership Officer in the Florida Region of Phi Theta Kappa.

I will keep everyone up to date as I find out more information.