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Just heard this on the TV news. Story from Bloomberg. It sounds like there was relatively "little" damage done.
Earthquake Near Solomon Islands Sparks Tsunami Alert (Update5)
By Emma O'Brien and Ed Johnson
April 2 (Bloomberg) -- An earthquake of magnitude 8 struck near the Solomon Islands, triggering a tsunami wave that killed at least four people as it crashed into the coast and prompting an alert for Australia and South Pacific island nations.
Five other people are missing, Julian Makaa of the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office, said in a telephone interview from the capital, Honiara, today.
Residents retreated to high ground as the tsunami swept through Gizo town damaging buildings, including a hotel, Robert Iroge, editor of the Solomons Star newspaper said by telephone from Honiara.
The quake is the world's most powerful since an 8.1 magnitude temblor hit east of the Kuril Islands off Japan on Jan. 13, according to the USGS. Earthquakes of magnitude 8 and higher happen on average once a year, it said.
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology advised people to avoid beaches in the eastern states of Queensland and New South Wales.
``At this stage we are not expecting a massive wall of water,'' spokesman Rob Webb told Sky, adding coastal areas could still be hazardous due to strong currents.
The quake occurred at 7:39 a.m. Solomon Islands time, 41 kilometers (25 miles) south southeast of Gizo in the New Georgia archipelago and 348 kilometers west northwest of Honiara, at a depth of 10 kilometers, the U.S. Geological Survey said in an e- mailed alert. The USGS initially reported a magnitude 7.6 quake and later revised it to magnitude 8.
Judith Kennedy, a resident in Gizo, said water ``right up to your head'' swept through the town, Associated Press reported. ``All the houses near the sea were flattened,'' the news agency cited her as saying in a telephone interview.
Regional Alert
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center classified the quake as 8.1 magnitude and said a tsunami alert was in effect for the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji, northeastern Australia, New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands. The center said a 20-centimeter high wave had been recorded at Honiara. According to Webb, that could prove destructive, depending on the depth of the water.
The Solomon Islands, about 2,500 kilometers from the eastern coast of Australia, has a population of about 550,000 people and experiences frequent earth tremors and volcanic activity.
``Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated,'' the warning center said on its Web site. ``It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter and could also be a threat to more distant coasts.''
Aftershocks Felt
An aftershock of magnitude 6.7, also at a depth of 10 kilometers, hit 539 kilometers west northwest of Honiara at 7:47 a.m. Solomon Islands time, the USGS said on its Web site. Five aftershocks followed, decreasing in magnitude from 6.4 to 5.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Willis and Barrier Reef Islands.
``Dangerous waves and currents may affect beaches, harbors and rivers for several hours from the time of impact and low- lying coastal areas could be flood,'' the bureau said in a statement on its Web site. ``Boats and ships at sea should move to deep water and not return to harbor until advised it is safe to do so.''
Last Updated: April 1, 2007 22:15 EDT
Earthquake Near Solomon Islands Sparks Tsunami Alert (Update5)
By Emma O'Brien and Ed Johnson
April 2 (Bloomberg) -- An earthquake of magnitude 8 struck near the Solomon Islands, triggering a tsunami wave that killed at least four people as it crashed into the coast and prompting an alert for Australia and South Pacific island nations.
Five other people are missing, Julian Makaa of the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office, said in a telephone interview from the capital, Honiara, today.
Residents retreated to high ground as the tsunami swept through Gizo town damaging buildings, including a hotel, Robert Iroge, editor of the Solomons Star newspaper said by telephone from Honiara.
The quake is the world's most powerful since an 8.1 magnitude temblor hit east of the Kuril Islands off Japan on Jan. 13, according to the USGS. Earthquakes of magnitude 8 and higher happen on average once a year, it said.
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology advised people to avoid beaches in the eastern states of Queensland and New South Wales.
``At this stage we are not expecting a massive wall of water,'' spokesman Rob Webb told Sky, adding coastal areas could still be hazardous due to strong currents.
The quake occurred at 7:39 a.m. Solomon Islands time, 41 kilometers (25 miles) south southeast of Gizo in the New Georgia archipelago and 348 kilometers west northwest of Honiara, at a depth of 10 kilometers, the U.S. Geological Survey said in an e- mailed alert. The USGS initially reported a magnitude 7.6 quake and later revised it to magnitude 8.
Judith Kennedy, a resident in Gizo, said water ``right up to your head'' swept through the town, Associated Press reported. ``All the houses near the sea were flattened,'' the news agency cited her as saying in a telephone interview.
Regional Alert
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center classified the quake as 8.1 magnitude and said a tsunami alert was in effect for the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji, northeastern Australia, New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands. The center said a 20-centimeter high wave had been recorded at Honiara. According to Webb, that could prove destructive, depending on the depth of the water.
The Solomon Islands, about 2,500 kilometers from the eastern coast of Australia, has a population of about 550,000 people and experiences frequent earth tremors and volcanic activity.
``Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated,'' the warning center said on its Web site. ``It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter and could also be a threat to more distant coasts.''
Aftershocks Felt
An aftershock of magnitude 6.7, also at a depth of 10 kilometers, hit 539 kilometers west northwest of Honiara at 7:47 a.m. Solomon Islands time, the USGS said on its Web site. Five aftershocks followed, decreasing in magnitude from 6.4 to 5.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Willis and Barrier Reef Islands.
``Dangerous waves and currents may affect beaches, harbors and rivers for several hours from the time of impact and low- lying coastal areas could be flood,'' the bureau said in a statement on its Web site. ``Boats and ships at sea should move to deep water and not return to harbor until advised it is safe to do so.''
Last Updated: April 1, 2007 22:15 EDT
