8.2 magnitude quake hits off Indonesian coast

[ebbhead]

Let's hope nothing tragic happens as a result, but they are still anticipating tsunamis are possible. However, since the quake hit over an hour ago and no tsunami yet, I'm hoping that there's nothing to worry about.


http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/0 ... index.html

Quake strikes off Indonesia coast
Monday, March 28, 2005 Posted: 12:31 PM EST (1731 GMT)


(CNN) -- An earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 8.2 struck off the coast of Indonesia Monday -- on the same fault line that originated a December 26 earthquake that launched a deadly tsunami.

The director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said scientists there feared another tsunami might hit the area.

Charles McCreary said he could not be certain that the quake, which was 30 km deep and 203 kilometer (126 miles) from Sibolga on Sumatra Island, would cause a tsunami.

"There is a potential for some wave activity," said Julie Martinez, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center, in Golden, Colorado.

Thailand issued a warning that the quake could bring a tsunami to its southern provinces.

The warning, which was carried on national television, cautioned people in the six provinces to be careful and vigilant, but did not order evacuations.

The quake occurred at 11:09 a.m. ET (1609 GMT), and is considered a "great" earthquake, the largest of seven grades.

The grades are very minor, minor, light, moderate, strong, major and great.

Tsunamis are distinguished from normal coastal surf by their great length and speed. A single wave in a tsunami series might be 160 kilometers (100 miles) long and race across the ocean at 960 kph (600 mph).

When it approaches a coastline, the wave slows dramatically, but it also rises to great heights because the enormous volume of water piles up in shallow coastal bays.

On December 26, a 9.0-magnitude quake triggered a massive tsunami that devastated Asian and African coastlines in nearly a dozen nations, killing at least 175,000 people.

[mygreen]

I can't imagine what those people are going through right now.

[ben_at_work]

Let's hope there is no Tsunami as a result.

[mygreen]

FYI--
"Fifty people died on the island of Nias, near the epicenter of a massive earthquake off Indonesia, a government official told CNN."

[ben_at_work]

[quote][i]Originally posted by mygreen[/i]
<br>FYI--
"Fifty people died on the island of Nias, near the epicenter of a massive earthquake

[phillyidol]

Here we go again! I'm searching the trees for super models!

[mygreen]

Wow the total went from 50 to 296 reported dead rather quickly. No reports of any big waves striking the coast.

[ebbhead]

[quote][i]Originally posted by mygreen[/i]
<br>Wow the total went from 50 to 296 reported dead rather quickly. No reports of any big waves