8.6 Earthquake Hits Off of Indonesia’s Western Coast
- Posted on April 11, 2012 at 6:30am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) — Two massive earthquakes triggered back-to-back tsunami warnings for Indonesia on Wednesday, sending panicked residents fleeing to high ground in cars and on the backs of motorcycles. There were no signs of deadly waves, however, or serious damage, and a watch for much of the Indian Ocean was lifted after a few hours.
Women and children were crying in Aceh province, where memories are still raw of a 2004 tsunami that killed 170,000 people in the province alone. Others screamed “God is great” as they poured from their homes or searched frantically for separated family members.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the first 8.6-magnitude quake was 270 miles (435 kilometers) from Aceh’s provincial capital. The tsunami watch that followed from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii advised countries all along the rim of the Indian Ocean, from Australia and India to as far off as Africa, that a tsunami could be generated.
The only wave, however, was less than 30 inches (80 centimeters) high, rolling to Indonesia’s coast.
But just as the region was sighing relief, an 8.2-magnitude aftershock hit.
“We just issued another tsunami warning,” Prih Harjadi, from Indonesia’s geophysics agency, told TVOne in a live interview.
His countrymen were told to stay clear of western coasts.
Again, the threat quickly passed.
Experts said both quakes were geologically different than the one that spawned the 2004 tsunami, occurring horizontally, with the tectonic plates sliding against each other, creating more of a vibration in the water.
The other type of earthquake, a mega thrust, like the one that also hit off Japan last year, causes the seabed to heave and displaces water vertically, sending towering waves racing toward shores.
Roger Musson, seismologist at the British geological survey who has studied Sumatra’s fault lines, said initially he’d been “fearing the worst.”
“But as soon as I discovered what type of earthquake it was … I felt a lot better.”
The tremors were felt in neighboring Malaysia, where high-rise buildings shook. Singapore, Thailand, Bangladesh and India also were rattled.
But it was the streets of Aceh where real chaos broke out.
Patients poured out of hospitals, some with drips still attached to their arms. In some places, electricity was briefly cut.
Hours after the temblor, people were still standing outside their homes and offices, afraid to go back inside.
“I was in the shower on the fifth floor of my hotel,” Timbang Pangaribuan told El Shinta radio from the city of Medan. “We all ran out. … We’re all standing outside now.”
He said one guest was injured when he jumped from a window.
Thailand‘s National Disaster Warning Center issued an evacuation order in six provinces along the country’s west coast, including the tourist destinations of Phuket, Krabi and Phang-Nga.
India’s Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for parts of the eastern Andaman and Nicobar islands. In Tamil Nadu in southern India, police cordoned off the beach and used loudspeakers to warn people to leave the area.
The quake was felt in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where many people in the city’s commercial Motijheel district left their offices and homes in panic and ran into the streets. In Male, the capital of the Maldives, buildings were evacuated.
Indonesia straddles a series of fault lines that makes the vast island nation prone to volcanic and seismic activity.
The giant 9.1-magnitude quake and tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004, killed 230,000 people in about a dozen nations.
—
Associated Press reporters Margie Mason in Hanoi, Vietnam; Sean Yoong in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Muneeza Naqvi in New Delhi; Vee Intarakratug in Bangkok and Farid Hossain in Dhaka, Bangladesh contributed to this report.
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Black Manta
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 3:35pmIt’s called H.A.A.R.P………
Report Post »Brooke Lorren
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 3:06pmWith an 8.6 and an 8.2 quake this year, we’ve already had double the average 8+ magnitude quakes this year. We’re on track to have an average/above average number of 7 and 5 magnitude quakes as well. Below average for the year (slightly) in magnitude 6 quakes though… and scientists say that earthquakes are not increasing!
It used to be that 6+ quakes were a big deal. Now, unless a quake is a 7 or above, I hardly pay much attention (unless a huge amount of damage occurs).
Report Post »sillyfreshness
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:16pmYou’re right. The propaganda in the mainstream news is “there aren’t anymore earthquakes now than say 50 years ago.” But it seems like there are big earthquakes all the time. Like you said, if it‘s not 7 or higher I don’t pay attention either, but 20 years ago a 6 was newsworthy. Anymore it’s getting where it has to be at least an 8 to even be reported in the news. But we don’t have anymore more earthquakes now than any other time in history. Yeah right!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 2:27pmMore birth pains are coming and they will come closer together.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 1:09pmThey’re called tectonic plates people. We live on them and they’re constantly moving. Look up “Pangea” …. I’m a Christian Conservative and while I agree Islam is about wrong as you can get. I don’t think God is trying to warn Muslims to “wake up” to the truth or else. If you happen to live in areas where plates border one another ….. you’re gonna have to survive earthquakes, sometimes massive, and even tsunamis. I‘m glad this huge ass quake didn’t generate another massive Tsunami.
Report Post »jrfox
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 11:53amThat entire region of the world needs to quickly convert to christianity, or they will perrish into the sea.
Report Post »Wake up everyone. I suspect we will soon the middle east having biblical predicted events. They have had two recent warnings.
mar1an1
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 1:36pmMy background: Naturalized American citizen with a background of Christian Indonesian of Chinese descent (who is considered a minority in Indonesia). My political affiliation is GOP and not a RHINO.
While Indonesia is the largest moslem country in the world, not every single citizen of that country affiliates themselves to Al-Qaeda or other Islamist extremist. To condemn the entire region or country based on your dislike of a specific religion is blatantly ignorant. Please think of uniting our country and filter your comment before posting it. You are flaming hatred, and it shows.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:58amGreat, now Barry has another excuse for the rising gas prices, housing market collapse etc…
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:47amAfter the commies and sharia kill-off OUR USA, there will be no-one to FREELY give billions to help them “cleanup and rebuild” after such disasters.
Report Post »Marine4ever
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 10:15amJust waiting for all the Global Warning comments from the left.
Report Post »fliptailhunter
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:11amThe Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all[a] these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,[b] and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:23amThe volcanic eruption of Krakatoa over a hundred years ago was credited with the spread of Islam in Indonesia. Apparently when one god stops working, we get a new one, at least some of us do. Earthquakes have been happening for a long time. Our modern day prophets are always eager to interpret them in terms of a judgement followed by a prescription on how to make the judgement go away. The Lefties are trying to say its getting hotter or that there are more earthquakes than there used to be and then prescribing that we save the planet by going green, broke and back to the caves. After a few decades of this, no major fraction of the population is going to be persuaded by people who seem to he shouting “wolf” all of the time.
Report Post »zippo
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 7:58amYes!! Its all Bush’s fault!!!
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 7:46amI’ve had to worry about hurricanes( rode out Ike in the attic), tornados, floods and wildfires but I have never had the day to day fear of earthquakes that some people have to live with. It must be a terrible feeling when the earth moves under you.
Report Post »I sure hope they are spared a tsunami.
kickagrandma
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 7:40amThe GOOD LORD is trying so hard to wake us up. HE is sending signs and wonders all over the place to get our attention. HE has mine.
THE HARBINGER by Jonathan Cahn is a must-read, folks. Read it as fast as you can digest what it is telling you.
Glenn, if you haven’t read it, get it now! Would like to see you talk about this book and its author, please.
Report Post »marthasusan40
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:22amI just read the intro to the book The Harbinger, and I had to order it…..thanks for the tip, looking forward to it.
Report Post »One-Big-Ass-Mistake-America
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:23amEvery American should read the The Harbinger especially are leaders and people with persuasive power like Glenn…
No joke, straight up the most profound book I have ever read. With knowledge comes protection and power. America has forgotten it’s knowledge and our protection and power is going away.
Nice post kickagrandma…
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 8:33amMaybe Poseidon is angry he’s been ignored for all those centuries.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 7:26amYa have to wonder…Did Bush make this one happen too??? Or is Obama behind it this time???
Report Post »spikebu
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 7:54amBirth pains, people.
Report Post »