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Tsunami Generated by 8.0-Magnitude Quake in South Pacific

Feb. 5, 2013 9:00pm

SYDNEY (AP) — A powerful earthquake in the South Pacific generated a tsunami Wednesday that prompting warnings to several island nations.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami of .9 meters (3 feet) was measured in Lata wharf, in the Solomon Islands. No damage was immediately reported there or in Vanuatu, which also was covered by the warning.

The statement said the waves could be destructive near the epicenter and threaten more distant coasts.

The tsunami formed after a 8.0-magnitude earthquake near near Lata in Temotu province, the easternmost province of the Solomons, about a 3-hour flight from the capital, Honiara. The region has a population of around 30,000 people.

In Honiara, the warning prompted residents to flee for higher ground.

“People are still standing on the hills outside of Honiara just looking out over the water, trying to observe if there is a wave coming in,” said George Herming, a spokesman for the prime minister. So far, he had received no reports that a wave had been observed in Honiara.

Atenia Tahu, who works for the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp. in Honiara, said most people were remaining calm.

“People around the coast and in the capital are ringing in and trying to get information from us and the National Disaster Office and are slowly moving up to higher ground,” Tahu said. “But panic? No, no, no, people are not panicking.”

The tsunami warning also covered Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis and Futuna. A tsunami watch is in effect for American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Indonesia.

An official at the disaster management office in neighboring Vanuatu said there were no reports of damage or injuries there.

More than 50 people were killed and thousands lost their homes in April 2007 when a magnitude 8.1 quake hit the western Solomon Islands, sending waves crashing into coastal villages.

The Solomons comprise more than 200 islands with a population of about 552,000 people. They lie on the “Ring of Fire” – an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around the Pacific Rim and where about 90 percent of the world’s quakes occur.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck 81 kilometers (50 miles) west of Lata, at a depth of 5.8 kilometers (3.6 miles). The warning area does not include Hawaii and North and South America.

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Comments (12)

  • Jive Mickey
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:44pm

    You guys have it all wrong … it’s the devastating effects of Global Warm … er … I mean CLIMATE CHANGE causing all the problems. Pacific “Ring of Fire” indeed, how unscientific.

    Report this comment

    Jive Mickey  
  • pragmaticpatriot
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:39am

    i known lotsa Island people, none better to take a meal with just take your shoes off before crossing the threshold and keep your money tucked in….

    Report this comment

    pragmaticpatriot  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 4:40am

    OK. Five dead so far. I acquiesce. I was absent from propriety. I tolerate Ohio.
    I should be ashamed of my inappropriateness. I am to be shunned. OK. Can I crawl back yet ?
    Listen…I was in Santiago, 2/27/2010 when the earthquake struck Concepcion. I’ve walked the walk. I donated one of my best images for the relief fund. Did my share while I was there. I’ve been hit several times by hurricanes. Lived for weeks in the garage. Went with the crews to find the unlucky at Galveston. Never made the media past the police reports. Evacuated the populace from the San Jacinto river when it flooded. Removed debris from tornadoes numerous times. Cut me some slack.

    Report this comment

    Rayblue  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 2:03am

    Appropriate this.

    Report this comment

    Rayblue  
  • Witness1974
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:41am

    You should go on Youtube and look at video from the 2004 tsunami that took 250,000 human souls, men, women, and little children–not so funny. Your posts are inappropriate here.

    Report this comment

    Witness1974  
    • pragmaticpatriot
      Posted on February 6, 2013 at 8:35am

      dont mind rayblow, sometimes he thinks hes John Wayne, other times he thinks hes a tree but it shows he is kitty litter

      Report this comment

      pragmaticpatriot  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:30am

    I hate Ohio.

    Report this comment

    Rayblue  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:19am

    Well, I’m taking over this story. I’m hijacking the entertainment now. I’m the big cheese. I’m gonna speak my mind. The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd. I’m in control. I’m a steamroller of galactic proportions squashing all opposition to my humongous will. You will obey my command. Obey I say. I am Rayblue. Look upon my works ye mighty, and despair. I’m late for a Chips ahoy snack so I must bend time and reach into the evanescent kitchen of doom and locate a cookie to satisfy my rumbling tummy of immortality. Yea, so it is , was and evermore shall be. It is done.

    Report this comment

    Rayblue  
  • buckeyetater
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:18am

    Thanks Rayblue the Story Cop. I was going to be concerned for the possibility of the loss of human life but you talked me out of it. You know what THEY say Ray Ray, if you don’t have something nice to say then say nothing at all.

    Report this comment

    buckeyetater  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on February 6, 2013 at 1:05am

    I don’t care if the ocean quakes out in the middle of nowhere either folks.
    Whoop de doo. Some octopus got bounced around. Fish looked surprised.
    Whoever wrote this story probably lost a bet.

    Report this comment

    Rayblue  

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