Chile earthquake: tsunami hits New Zealand

[Watchman]

Chile earthquake: tsunami hits New Zealand
The first waves of the tsunami triggered by the earthquake in Chile have hit New Zealand's eastern Chatham Islands and officials have warned bigger waves are to follow
By Philip Sherwell in New York
Published: 6:25PM GMT 27 Feb 2010

he PTWC issued a tsunami warning, its highest alert, for the entire Pacific region Photo: AP

New Zealand's entire east coast is at risk with waves up to three metres (10 feet) expected to hit the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula, near the main South Island city of Christchurch.

"It is expected that the greatest wave heights will occur between six and 12 hours after the initial arrivals," the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management said in a statement.

Residents on the Chatham Islands were moved to higher ground several hours before the first wave struck and residents in low-lying areas of Banks Peninsula had been told to be prepared to evacuate.

The biggest tsunami warning in history was marked by alarm sirens, panic buying and mass evacuations across the Pacific, eastern Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

The Chilean earthquake triggered a tsunami that radiated across the Pacific basin and swamped the island chain that inspired the story of Robinson Crusoe.

The warnings came barely five years after the 2004 Asian tsunami sparked by an underwater quake off Indonesia inundated coastal communities with waves up to 100 ft high, claiming an estimated 230,000 lives.

Chile's Juan Fernandez islands, about 400 miles off the coast, were the first to feel the full force of the tsunami and "serious damage" was reported.

The chain includes Robinson Crusoe island, named after Daniel Defoe's protagonist, and another named after Alexander Selkirk, the Scottish sailor on whose real life experiences the novel is said to be based.

Michelle Bachelet, the Chilean President, said an evacuation of coastal areas on Easter Island, the Chilean territory famous for its monumental statues, was launched as the tsunami approached.

Unlike during the devastating Dec 2004 tsunami, emergency officials across much of the Pacific had several hours to prepare for the impact and arrange evacuations.

"We've got a lot of things going for us," said Charles McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) in Hawaii. "We have a reasonable lead time. We should be able to alert everyone in harm's way to move out of evacuation zones."

In Hawaii, supermarkets were packed during pre-dawn hours as people stripped the shelves of bottled water, basic foodstuffs and other essentials such as water. Cars lined up 15 deep at petrol stations.

Locals and tourists began to evacuate beachfront communities and hotels as the first warning sirens were sounded at 6am local time, five hours before waves of up to six feet were expected to hit.

Boaters at the quay in Honolulu loaded up with supplies and sailed their vessels offshore where they would be better able to ride out the waves rather than risk being battered at shore.

Nervous cruise ship passengers were also assured that while tsunamis can turn into colossal waves near land, their impact out at sea is limited.

The PTWC issued a tsunami warning, its highest alert, for the entire Pacific region, including countries as far away as Russia and Japan.

California and Alaska were issued a separate tsunami advisory.

New Zealand also issued a tsunami alert, warning of a wall of water up to 10 feet high. The National Crisis Management Centre warning said the greatest wave heights were expected between six and 12 hours after the initial arrivals.

Waves up to six ft high struck parts of French Polynesia and residents were warned to remain vigilant as tsunamis can consist of several surges and the first is usually not the strongest.

Several Chilean coastal towns were pounded by waves up to nine feet high during a holiday weekend when many people are on holiday at the beach for the official end of summer.

Residents and tourists on Ecuador's Galapagos archipelago - where Charles Darwin conducted research that led to his theory of evolution - were moved to high ground before unusually strong waves struck the shore.

Dr Brian Baptie, British Geological Survey's Head of Seismology, explained why most of the Pacific region would have time to prepare. "Tsunami waves in the deep ocean travel at about the same speed as a jet plane and would take about 15 hours to reach Hawaii and about 20 hours to reach the other side of the Pacific," he said.

Dr David Rothery of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Open University, said: "A magnitude 8 quake is a rare event. On average there is only about one of these per year, globally. This one was caused by the floor of the Pacific Ocean being pushed below South America. Because the epicentre was under the sea, the sudden jerking of the sea-floor displaced water and triggered a tsumani."

Additional reporting by Fiona Govan in Madrid and David Barrett in London

 

[boundThunter]

The predicted tsunami came up very short...20cm of wave was recorded at about 8 a.m. new zealand's time. A surf lifesaving competition was cancelled on one of those eastern beach.

In anticipation of the big wave,

Civil Defence authorities have downgraded the tsunami warning for New Zealand.

The move comes after the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has cancelled its tsunami warning for New Zealand shortly after 1pm.

However, New Zealand authorities are warning that there could be surges for up to 24 hours.


Earlier today, a tsunami surge of water measuring one metre reached Northland, turning the normally placid harbour into a "washing machine".

"The wave was approximately one metre. It sucks out and comes in. It takes a couple of minutes. They are very long waves," said Jeroen Jongejans from his boat near the harbour entrance.

He said the water was discoloured indicating the energy level of the wave was very deep and had picked up debris from the harbour floor.


One of the marine markers indicating the course boats should take to get into the harbour was "violently shaking."

He said the tidal flow was estimated to be about 12 knots which was very strong.

"It is very unusual for a body of water to move at that kind of speed."

Mr Jongejans said he was in no danger but was in constant touch with civil defence authorities and was keeping a constant lookout for surges.

Kate Malcolm from Dive Tutukaka said there had been several strong surges in the marina and there had been a rise and fall in the water level of about a metre and-a-half.

"It has resulted in a washing machine action in the marina.

"The piles are moving around a lot when the surges come through. There is about 12 knots of current at the entrance when it comes through and the lines are quite tight on the vessels in the marina."

She said normally the tidal flow was hardly noticeable in normal conditions and the 12 knot current was very unusual and very strong. No damage had been reported.

"But some of the boats certainly looking like they were getting tossed around," she said.


A 40cm surge has reached Gisborne, while Pitt Island in the Chathams has been hit by a 1.5 metre surge and consistent one metre surges.

Napier, Castlepoint, Tauranga and North Cape tsunami indicators are showing signs that surges of water are reaching mainland New Zealand.

Residents on Pitt Island have recorded surges more than two metres.



A wave measuring 1.5m hit Raoul Island in the Kermadecs, earlier this morning.

Another surge measuring 30cm reached Gisborne but authorities said a second surge could be larger.

John Davies from Civil Defence in Gisborne said a drop in the sea level has been noted by the local harbour master.

Mr Davies told Radio New Zealand that the council is monitoring water levels and warned people not to go to the beach. Receding water levels were seen in Indonesia during the Boxing Day tsunami and in Samoa last year.


"That's always a problem that there are some silly people who think that this is a bit of a laugh and will go down and just watch what happens. The chances are if they do and this is serious, it may be the last thing they do and we'd much rather people just stayed right away."

He said it was the first serious occurrence since the Samoa tsunami.

"These things seem to be occurring a bit more regularly now. People need to understand, they need to learn themselves about what they have to do to protect themselves."

Civil Defence officials were trying to warn people at events on the coast, such as a fishing contest and coastal farmers markets around the country, he said.

The first wave that reached the Chatham Islands measured 20cm, according to GNS Science, but authorities warn that succeeding waves could be higher. It was followed by a second wave measuring half-a-metre.

GNS Science staff said the waves had reached monitoring equipment off the coast of the Chathams and could slow have slowed down by 20 to 30 minutes.

The wave could be further slowed by the continental shelf.

The Civil Defence Emergency Management office has put a warning in place for the entire east coast of New Zealand and warn that a tsunami between one and three metres could be on its way after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile over night.

GNS Geonet project director Ken Gledhill said it was the fifth largest quake the world had seen since 1900.

Mr Gledhill said this morning that the wave that resulted from the quake first reached New Zealand Gledhill at 7.20am.

"Its built now to around 30cms high and it's likely to carry on building for the next few hours," he said.

"There's always big uncertainties and that's the biggest issue for Civil Defence.

When you tell them it might be between 1m and 3m at the beach, that's quite a wide range but it's the kind of uncertainty we have to deal with. Add to that uncertainties in timing where the first wave probably won't be the biggest one unless you're quite near the source.

"The message is - you probably don't have to go to the beach today. It's probably better if you don't," he said.

He said people wanting to see the wave would have to be "significantly above sea level" to be safe.

"The problem with these events are ... if you have two parts of the wave train that add together you can suddenly get a bigger wave. that's why it's probably easier to get a better idea when you are in the main beam of the event rather than on the side like we are," Mr Gledhill said.

He said for most of the country, the tsunami is a marine threat.

"That means if you go to the beach or on a small boat you could have an issue. We are still talking about less than a metre for most of New Zealand, but there's potential for the Chatham Islands and Banks Peninsula for something more than that (1m to 3m)," he said.

"One metre is not considered to be a destructive tsunami except if you're in the wrong place and it washes you out to sea. There'll be extra currents too. The currents will be crazy, probably for days.

"Apart from if you're unlucky and happen to be in one of these places where the wave gets amplified for some reason, it won't probably be too serious. That's our prediction at the moment. Hopefully it stays like that," Mr Gledhill said.

In Orewa, north of Auckland, many of the locals took the advice of authorities and stayed away. However a group of tourists were seen on the beach photographing their child.

Another woman was seen with a horse on the beach and was told to leave by a man on a motorbike.

Many other New Zealanders were going about their usual Sunday morning activities, blissfully unaware of the danger.

On Auckland's North Shore, people said they were unaware of the warning.

Police were at the Takapuna boat ramp, warning people not to go out on the water.

However, not all were heeding their advice and one couple launched their boat.

A man, who did not give his name to the Herald, said the warning did not worry him.

"I've heard every report from the last three hours. The safest place is on the water. We feel ok," the man said.

A waka ama event nearby has been cancelled. Paddlers from as far afield as the Solomon Islands had turned out for the event. Despite the cancellation, waka have headed out to sea.

Several other boaties who were about to head out were alarmed at the prospect of a metre-high wave hitting the east coast and were reconsidering their day on the water.

At Milford Beach two women who were about to set off on a walk along the coast to Takapuna and were apparently unperturbed about the warning.

"I've got my flippers," said one of the women.

At Whitianga a resident told NZPA that a warning siren had gone off, but residents didn't know what it was, so stayed put.

In Gisborne a voluntary evacuation was underway of residents at Midway and Waikanae beaches, but in Napier stall-holders were setting up their Sunday market on the foreshore.

They said they preferred to wait until they had heard what had happened in the Chathams before packing up and moving inland.

Meanwhile events around the country have been cancelled and the main railway line has been shut down in Kaikoura as a precaution.

KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said the line has been closed as a precaution.

He said the tranz-coastal train had left Christchurch but was aware of the tsunami warning and KiwiRail was monitoring the situation.

Mr Ramshaw said inter-island ferries have been diverted through the Tory Channel - a westerly route into the Marlborough Sounds and will be running late.

On the Chatham Islands, Catherine McKenzie is working at the Chatham Lodge, situated inland near the Henga Scenic Reserve.

About 40 locals have left their homes on the coast and gathered at the lodge to watch the news and listen to the radio.

"This is a safe place, a high place," Ms McKenzie said.

She said she was called by her boss at 3am and people began turning up two hours later.

The quake which has sparked the tsunami warnings hit 325 kilometres southwest of Santiago, at a depth of 35 kilometres at 3.34am local time (6.34pm NZT), the US Geological Survey reported.

A wave measuring 2.34 metres was recorded near Chile and Tsunami warnings were issued over a wide area in the Pacific.

 

[boundThunter]

Surf lifesavers patrol at Mt Maunganui to warn people to stay off the beach

Waiting.....Spectators at Waiake Beach on Auckland's North Shore disregard tsunami warnings and carry on as usual.

A kayak and a small boat in Napier pass through the tsunami 'surge'.

A large crowd (by New Zealand's defination) starts to gather on the top of North Head on Auckland's North Shore awaiting the outcome after a tsunami warning.

 

[boundThunter]

Tsunami cancels nude photo shoot

Leisure activities around New Zealand were disrupted today by a nationwide tsunami alert.

The alert was sparked by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake which struck with devastating and deadly force last night.

One of the first events affected was a mass nude photo shoot at Wellington's Breaker Bay.

Wellington City Council emergency management staff contacted the organiser of the event, scheduled for 8am today, and it was agreed the event be postponed.

City council emergency preparedness manager Fred Mecoy said the photoshoot, in which more than 100 people were expected to take part, had been cancelled due to the "obvious concerns we have about safety".

Today's dragon boat racing event on Wellington Harbour was also cancelled as a safety precaution .

Civil Defence staff and police asked the event organisers to cancel the event following reports about marked sea-level changes in the Gisborne area.

Around the country Civil defence and other emergency services were advising people to stay away from beaches and waterways, and closing boat ramps.

In Canterbury freedom campers were being evacuated from beaches and on Banks Peninsula people were moved out of the Okains Bay camping ground.

Rakaia fishing competition organisers were told of the possible tsunami about 5.30am. There were approximately 700 competitors over the length of river and Ellesmere search and rescue were advising people to move from the river mouth.

In the Bay of Plenty officials at the Ocean Athlete under-14 national surf lifesaving championships put the event on hold and advised competitors to stay away from Mount Maunganui's Main Beach after this morning's tsunami warning.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand spokesman Nathan Hight said they were taking every precaution.

"We've been monitoring the situation for the past few hours and have already told team managers to keep their athletes away from the beach until otherwise advised," Hight said.

The annual carnival has nearly 800 juniors from all over New Zealand attending.

Mount Maunganui, Omanu and Papamoa surf lifesavers were mobilised and patrolling beaches advising the public to stay away.

The Hawke's Bay Multisport Club's Ironkids Duathlon, due to take place at Ocean Spa on Napier's Marine Parade at 9am today, was cancelled due to the tsunami risk to Napier.

HB Multisport Club coordinator, Jeanette Cooper has advised people to check the club's website www.hbmsc.org.nz for more information.

Further north, in Franklin, the Kaiaua Wine and Food Festival was cancelled, and in Rodney the Mayoral Bike Challenge was also canned.

TESTING THE WATER: Model Christie Wright, 22, gets the feel of the Breaker Bay rocks before Sunday's nude photo shoot. (27 February 2010)

 

[makapaaa]

A large crowd (by New Zealand's defination) starts to gather on the top of North Head on Auckland's North Shore awaiting the outcome after a tsunami warning.

=> Sporns can only dream of such spaciousness. In fact, their nightmare has just begun as the PAPee Traitors seek to flood Peesai with a tsunami of FTrash!

 

[boundThunter]

HONOLULU - With a rapt world watching the drama unfold on live television, a tsunami raced across a quarter of the globe on Saturday and set off fears of a repeat of the carnage that caught the world off guard in Asia in 2004.


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The tsunami delivered nothing more than a glancing blow to the U.S. and most of the Pacific, but Japan was still bracing for a direct hit and waves up to 10 feet high (3 meters). Scientists worried the giant wave could gain strength as it rounds the planet and consolidates, though the first wave to hit Japan's outlying island's was just 4 inches (10 centimeters) high.

The tsunami was spawned by a ferocious magnitude-8.8 earthquake in Chile that sent waves barreling north across the Pacific at the speed of a jetliner. But Pacific islands had ample time to prepare because the quake struck several thousand miles away.

By the time the tsunami hit Hawaii — a full 16 hours after the quake — officials had already spent the morning ringing emergency sirens, blaring warnings from airplanes and ordering residents to higher ground.

The islands were back to paradise by the afternoon, but residents endured a severe disruption and scare earlier in the day: Picturesque beaches were desolate, million-dollar homes were evacuated, shops in Waikiki were shut down, and residents lined up at supermarkets to stock up on food and at gas stations.

Others parked their cars along higher ground to watch the ocean turbulence, and one brave soul stayed behind and surfed before being urged by an emergency helicopter pilot to get out of the water.

There were no immediate reports of widespread damage, injuries or deaths in the U.S. or in much of the Pacific, but a tsunami that swamped a village on an island off Chile killed at least five people and left 11 missing.

Waves hit California, but barely registered amid stormy weather. A surfing contest outside San Diego went on as planned.

Despite Internet rumors of significant problems in coastal areas of California, no injuries or major property damage occurred.

It was still possible that the tsunami would gain strength again as it heads to Japan. That's what happened in 1960, when a deadly tsunami killed dozens of people in Hilo, Hawaii, then went on to claim some 200 lives in Japan.

Japan and Russia were the only countries left on the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's watch list, but some countries in Asia and the Pacific — including the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand — said their own warnings would remain in effect as a precaution.

Japan put all of its eastern coastline on alert for a "major" tsunami Sunday and ordered hundreds of thousands of residents in low-lying areas to seek higher ground. It was the first such alert for Japan's coasts in nearly 20 years.

Hawaii had originally prepared to bear the brunt of the damage, but the tsunami was smaller than anticipated.

"We dodged a bullet," said Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii.

The tsunami initially raised fears that the Pacific could fall victim to the type of killer waves that killed 230,000 people in the Indian Ocean in 2004 the morning after Christmas. During that disaster, there was little to no warning and much confusion about the impending waves.

Officials said the opposite occurred after the Chile quake: They overstated their predictions for the size of the waves and the threat.

"We expected the waves to be bigger in Hawaii, maybe about 50 percent bigger than they actually were," Fryer said. "We'll be looking at that."

The Navy moved more than a half dozen vessels to try to avoid damage from the tsunami. A frigate, three destroyers and two smaller vessels were being sent out of Pearl Harbor and a cruiser out of Naval Base San Diego, the Navy said.

The tsunami caused a series of surges in Hawaii that were about 20 minutes apart, and the waves arrived later and smaller than originally predicted. The highest wave at Hilo measured 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) high, while Maui saw some as high as 6.5 feet (2 meters).

Water began pulling away from shore off Hilo Bay on the Big Island just before noon, exposing reefs and sending dark streaks of muddy, sandy water offshore. Waves later washed over Coconut Island, a small park off Hilo's coast.

"We've checked with each county. There was no assessment of any damage in any county, which was quite remarkable," said Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle. "It's just wonderful that nothing happened and no one was hurt or injured."

Officials in Tonga and the Samoas evacuated coastal residents and used radio, television and mobile phone text messages to alert residents.

Sea surges hit 6.5 feet (2 meters) at several places in New Zealand. Waters at Tutukaka, a coastal dive spot near the top of the North Island, looked like a pot boiling with the muddy bottom churning up as sea surges built in size through the morning, sucking sea levels below low water marks before surging back.

A nude photo shoot involving scores of people scheduled for the coastline near the capital, Wellington, was canceled by the tsunami threat before any of the volunteers could strip.

Past South American earthquakes have had deadly effects across the Pacific.

A tsunami after a magnitude-9.5 quake that struck Chile in 1960, the largest earthquake ever recorded, killed about 140 people in Japan, 61 in Hawaii and 32 in the Philippines. It was about 3.3 to 13 feet (1 to 4 meters) in height, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

Associated Press writers Jaymes Song and Greg Small in Honolulu; Kristen Gelineau in Sydney, Chris Havlik in Phoenix, Ray Lilley in Wellington, New Zealand; Eric Talmadge in Tokyo; Alan Clendenning in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Tiphaine Issele in Papette, French Polynesia; Pauline Jelinek in Washington; and Charmaine Noronha in Toronto contributed to this report.