Sunday October 28, 2012

Tsunami warning for Hawaii lifted (Updated)

HONOLULU, Hawaii: Forecasters early Sunday lifted a tsunami warning issued for the US Pacific state of Hawaii in the wake of a major earthquake off the coast of Canada that had triggered the tidal wave.

"Based on all available data the tsunami threat has decreased and is now at the advisory level and not expected to increase," the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced.

Earlier reports:

Tsunami triggered by Canadian earthquake hits Hawaii

HONOLULU, Hawaii: A tsunami generated by a powerful earthquake in Canada hit the US state of Hawaii late Saturday, an official from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

"The tsunami is arriving right now," Gerard Fryer, a senior geophysicist with the center, told reporters. "It is coming in as we speak."

Television images from the island of Oahu showed relatively small waves peacefully rolling toward the shore.

But Fryer urged Hawaii residents not to deceived by appearances.

"Typically, the first wave is not the largest," he said, adding that subsequent waves could be much larger, resulting in flooding in low-lying areas.

"If the waves are big, the all-clear may take six or seven hours," Fryer said.

Tsunami heads to Hawaii after Canada quake

LOS ANGELES: A potentially destructive Pacific tsunami was headed toward the US state of Hawaii early Sunday after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Canada, triggering calls for urgent action to protect lives.

"Basically this tsunami is pointed right at us," Gerard Fryer, senior geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, told CNN International. "It's not just one wave, it's a succession of waves... We are recommending coastal evacuation."

The expected arrival time of the tsunami was 10:28 pm Saturday (0828 GMT Sunday).

Initially, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no "destructive widespread tsunami threat" after the quake shook the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of Canada.

But later it issued a warning, saying a tsunami had been generated by the earthquake and that it was headed toward Hawaii.

The tsunami "could cause damage along the coastline of all islands in the state of Hawaii," the center said, adding that "urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property."

Sirens were reported to be blaring across the archipelago.

"Initial reports indicate that a wave of around three feet (one meter) is anticipated, with Kahului likely to be impacted by a larger wave, possibly up to six feet (two meters)," Honolulu's KITV station said.

The epicenter of the Canadian quake, which occurred at 8:04 pm Saturday (0304 GMT Sunday) was located 139 kilometers (86 miles) south of the town of Masset, the US Geological Survey said.

Numerous aftershocks, some as strong as magnitude 4.6, followed the initial quake, Canadian officials reported.

Emergency officials in British Columbia urged residents in low-lying coastal areas to be alert to instructions from local officials and be prepared to move to higher ground.

"The tsunami alarm went off and everybody went to the evacuation site," Danny Escott, owner of the Escott Sportfishing lodge near Masset, told AFP by telephone.

But officials in Canada sought to calm the population.

"We would not be expecting any widespread damage or inundation," Kelli Kryzanowski of Emergency Management British Columbia told reporters during a teleconference.

Natural Resources Canada said in a statement that the quake was felt across much of north-central British Columbia, including Haida Gwaii as the Queen Charlotte Islands are also called, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, and Houston.

But also played down the effects on Canada.

"There have been no reports of damage at this time," the ministry said.

However, Fryer said quakes exceeding magnitude 7.0 should not be taken lightly.

"A 7.7 is a big, hefty earthquake. It's not something you can ignore," said the geophysicist.

He said it had struck partly under an island, but mostly under shallow water.

"I think we have to be thankful it happened where it did," Fryer said. "If that were a heavily populated area, it would have caused significant damage."

The earthquake reading was based on the open-ended Moment Magnitude scale used by US seismologists, which measures the area of the fault that ruptured and the total energy released.

The Queen Charlotte Islands, which are also known by their official indigenous name of Haida Gwaii, comprise about 150 islands located north of Canada's Vancouver Island. Their total population is about 5,000. The Haida people make up about 45 percent of the total population. - AFP

Major earthquake off west coast of Canada, tsunami triggered

VANCOUVER, Canada: A major 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of Canada late Saturday, triggering a potentially destructive Pacific tsunami that is now headed toward the US state of Hawaii.

The epicenter of the tremor, which occurred at 8:04 pm (0304 GMT Sunday) was located 139 kilometers (86 miles) south of the town of Masset, the US Geological Survey said.

Numerous aftershocks, some as large as magnitude 4.6, followed the initial quake, Canadian officials reported.

Initially, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no "destructive widespread tsunami threat" at this time.

But later it issued a warning, saying a tsunami had been generated by an earthquake off the west coast of Canada and is headed toward the US state of Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced early Sunday.

The tsunami "could cause damage along the coastline of all islands in the state of Hawaii," the center said, adding that "urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property."

The expected arrival time of the tsunami is 10:28 pm local time Saturday (0828 GMT Sunday).

Meanwhile, emergency officials in British Columbia urged residents in low-lying coastal areas to be alert to instructions from local officials and be prepared to move to higher ground.

Some actually did. "The tsunami alarm went off and everybody went to the evacuation site," Danny Escott, owner of the Escott Sportfishing lodge near Massett, told AFP by telephone.

But overall, officials in Canada moved to quiet the population.

"We would not be expecting any widespread damage or inundation," Kelli Kryzanowski of Emergency Management British Columbia told reporters early Sunday during a teleconference.

Natural Resources Canada said in a statement that the temblor was felt across much of north-central British Columbia, including Haida Gwaii as the Queen Charlotte Islands are otherwise called, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, and Houston.

But it, too, played down the tremor's effects on Canada.

"There have been no reports of damage at this time," the ministry said.

However, experts said temblors exceeding magnitude 7.0 were extremely dangerous.

"A 7.7 is a big, hefty earthquake. It's not something you can ignore," Gerard Fryer, senior geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center told n CNN International.

He explained that the latest tremor had occurred partly under an island, but mostly under shallow water.

"I think we have to be thankful it happened where it did," Fryer said. "If that were a heavily populated area, it would have caused significant damage."

"It definitely would have done significant damage if it had been under a city," the geophysicist added.

The earthquake reading was based on the open-ended Moment Magnitude scale used by US seismologists, which measures the area of the fault that ruptured and the total energy released.

Tsunami warning for Hawaii following Canadian earthquake

WASHINGTON: An earthquake off the west coast of Canada has triggered a tsunami that is headed toward the US state of Hawaii, The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced early Sunday.

"A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along the coastline of all islands in the state of Hawaii," the center warned.

The center said "urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property."

The expected arrival time of the tsunami is 10:28 pm local time Saturday (0828 GMT Sunday).

The announcement came after a major 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of Canada late Saturday.

The epicenter of the tremor, which occurred at 8:04 pm (0304 GMT Sunday) was located 139 kilometers (86 miles) south of the town of Masset, the US Geological Survey said.

Numerous aftershocks, some as large as magnitude 4.6, followed the initial quake, Canadian officials reported.

USGS: Major earthquake hits islands off west coast of Canada

VANCOUVER (Canada): A Tsunami warning was issued for Hawaii following Canadian earthquake, official.

A major 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of Canada late Saturday, US government researchers said.

The epicenter of the tremor, which occurred at 8:04 pm (0304 GMT Sunday) was located 139km (86 miles) south of the town of Masset, the US Geological Survey said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no "destructive widespread tsunami threat" at this time.

However, the regional West Coast-Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued a regional warning for coasts located near the epicenter of the earthquake.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

"A 7.7 is a big, hefty earthquake. It's not something you can ignore," Gerard Fryer, senior geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center told n CNN International.

He explained that the latest tremor had occurred partly under an island, but mostly under shallow water.

"I think we have to be thankful it happened where it did," Fryer said. "If that were a heavily populated area, it would have caused significant damage."

"It definitely would have done significant damage if it had been under a city," the geophysicist added.

The Globe and Mail newspaper reported that the quake was felt in Haida Gwaii Island and across a swathe of north and central British Columbia including Prince Rupert, Quesnel and Houston, with no immediate reports of damage.

The US Coast Guard in Alaska was trying to warn everyone with a boat on the water to prepare for a potential tsunami, the report said.

The Canadian paper also quoted Lieutenant Bernard Auth of the Juneau Command Center as saying that the US Coast Guard was also working with local authorities to alert people in coastal towns to take precautions.

The earthquake reading was based on the open-ended Moment Magnitude scale used by US seismologists, which measures the area of the fault that ruptured and the total energy released. - AFP

'British solider' butchered in suspected Islamist attack

News

Sunday October 28, 2012

Tsunami warning for Hawaii lifted (Updated)