Tsunami fear

[jason]

Tsunami fear after massive earthquake

A massive 8.2 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Sumatra close to where a quake triggered a tsunami that left nearly 300,000 people dead or missing across Asia, residents and officials said.


The latest quake had the potential to cause a "widely destructive tsunami" and authorities should take "immediate action," including evacuating coastlines within 600 miles (1,000 km) of the epicentre, the Pacific tsunami warning centre said.

Malaysia urged residents along parts of its west coast to evacuate to higher areas.

Thailand, India and Sri Lanka also immediately issued tsunami warnings in coastal areas. Sirens were ringing in the eastern Sri Lankan town of Trincomalee, residents said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Geological Survey told Reuters the quake struck 125 miles (200 km) west northwest of Sibolga, Sumatra or 880 miles northwest of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta at 5.09 p.m. British time on Monday, close to where the 9.0 magnitude quake struck in December.

Tens of thousands of people ran out of their homes in many parts of Sumatra, and in Singapore and Malaysia. But there were no immediate reports of casualties.

"It was very strong," said a telephone operator in the Sumatran city of Medan, in western Indonesia. "We all ran out of the building."

An NGO official in Banda Aceh, the town worst hit by the December 26 tsunami, sent out a telephone message saying thousands of people fled their homes and headed for higher ground after feeling what he described as "a very damn big earthquake".

Panic spread in many areas along the west coast of Malaysia, the Bernama news agency said. "It felt stronger than on December 26," said Arumugam Gopal, a resident of the town of Penang.

U.S. Geological Survey spokesman Don Blakeman said Monday's quake was considered a "great earthquake" because it was larger than a magnitude 8. He said it was an aftershock from December's temblor but was a "very serious earthquake in its own right".

But the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake had the "potential to generate a widely destructive tsunami in the ocean or seas near the earthquake". "Authorities can assume the danger has passed if no tsunami waves are observed in the region near the epicentre within three hours of the earthquake," it added.


Please dont tell us we are on for another,there has been enough devastation over there.

[lindsay ormerod]

Good grief! I just read that on MSN when I signed on;how much more do those poor folk have to put up with? Let's hope it's not as bad as the last one. It says this one is an aftershock;would it really take 3 months???

[Doug]

We can only hope and pray that it not a repeat of the last one. God forbid that those people will have to go through it all again..............Cheers Jason, I've been walking in the lakes so I've not seen any news yet.

[jason]

I just hope they dont find any casualties or fatalities,we have heard of enough bad news from over there!

[K.S.H]

This is the latest update, looking good for everyone out there

"Authorities can assume the danger has passed if no tsunami waves are observed in the region near the epicentre within three hours of the earthquake."

Breaking News
Earthquake close to Banda Aceh
Earthquake close to Banda Aceh


GIANT EARTHQUAKE HITS ASIA
An earthquake measuring 8.2 has hit in the sea off Indonesia - triggering tsumani warnings across Asia.

The Pacific tsunami warning centre has advised authorities to evacuate coastlines within 600 miles of the quake's epicentre.

The quake struck in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Sumatra, near Banda Aceh and 880 miles north west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

It was felt as far as north as Bangkok, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, where tens of thousands of people ran out of their homes.

According to the US Geological Survey it happened about 1609 GMT.

The quake was close to where a nine magnitude quake triggered a devastating Tsunami in Asia on Boxing Day which left about 300,000 people dead or missing.

USGS Spokesman Don Blakeman said: "Certainly evacuations should be occuring, I hope they are."

He said it was an aftershock from December's tremblor but a "very serious earthquake in its own right".

Thailand has issued a tsunami warning along its west coast.

Thai official Samith Dhammasaroj went on Thai radio to urge people to move to higher ground, saying there was "a strong chance" of another tsunami.

Malaysia has urged residents along parts of its west coast to evacuate and Sri Lankan officials evacuated the eastern town of Trincomalee.

Earthquake hits Indonesia
Earthquake hits Indonesia


Eric Fernando, of the country's information unit, said: "We received a call from Trincomalee. We were told sirens are going, which means an evacuation is taking place."

The tsunami warning centre, which recorded the quake as 8.5, said the earthquake could cause a "widely destructive tsunami" and authorities should take "immediate action".

However a spokesman added: "Authorities can assume the danger has passed if no tsunami waves are observed in the region near the epicentre within three hours of the earthquake."

The government in India's Andaman and Nicobar islands has also issued a preliminary warning through police stations in coastal areas.

UN official Paul Berg, based in Sumatra, told Sky News: "The quake was felt more severely here than the December 26 quake.

"This time there does appear to be some damage.We can see fire trucks, but it's not yet clear what the damages are.

"We have made some telephone contact with Banda Aceh where our people are safe but they said they felt it very severely there."

An official in Banda Aceh said thousands of people had fled their homes and headed for higher ground after feeling what he described as "a very damn big earthquake

[jason]

News on at the moment.............

Warnings have gone out to warn of waves tonight etc.
At least no deaths reported at the moment!!.touch wood!

[Sara]

Those poor souls, they must be going through living hell. Let's just hope nobody is hurt and that a tsunami doesn't follow.

[Tinkerbelle]

My initial thoughts are NO NOT AGAIN these poor people!! Sky News is broadcasting the evacuation of Banda Aceh. At least this time they haven't been caught off guard by a Tsunami and are heading for higher ground early enough. I'm sure all our prayers are with these people tonight

[lindsay ormerod]

It makes you so aware of your own mortality and the fact that nothing can stop "Mother Nature" when she is on one;these natural phenomenon are just unstoppable and mainly unescapable.

[John_Timmins]

Sumatra quake toll rising

Hundreds of buildings were flattened

Indonesian rescuers are frantically searching for survivors of a a powerful earthquake which has killed more than 100 people on Sumatra island.
Bad weather and broken communications are hampering the relief effort, and the death toll is expected to rise.




Thousands have been left homeless


"We still expect the death toll to climb higher," Police Sergeant Edy Somes said.

"The quake caused several landslides in the south of the province, and it is tough for rescuers to reach that area because some roads have been blocked by tonnes of earth."

Police said half the dead had been found in the worst-hit area of Bengkulu province.

Thousands of residents in Bengkulu town spent the night outdoors as a number of aftershocks struck the island.




The BBC's Richard Galpin, reporting from the area, says many small houses have collapsed entirely, leaving just piles of bricks and smashed tiles.

Families have been picking through the rubble trying to salvage some of their belongings.

Many are still in a state of shock and terrified of further tremors.

On Enggano island, west of Sumatra, 90% of houses were flattened, officials said.

Appeal

The Indonesian authorities have appealed for international help, saying they urgently need medicines and tents.



Makeshift wards were set up outside Bengkulu's main hospital


Doctors in Bengkulu have been treating casualties in hospital car parks due to a shortage of beds and medical supplies.

The quake - which lasted several minutes - struck late on Sunday night when most people were asleep.

It measured 7.9 on the Richter scale and was felt as far as away as Jakarta and Singapore.

Surjadi Soedirja, co-ordinating minister for political and security affairs, called for international assistance.



A mother tries to salvage her belongings


"Because the airport cannot be used, it is hampering the arrival of aid," he added. "So aid will be delivered by sea and land. Maybe we will use military helicopters to drop food."

The government has sent food relief to Enggano, North Bengkulu, South Bengkulu and Bengkulu itself.

The town of about 150,000 people lies some 100km (60 miles) east of the epicentre.


Fault lines

The quake, one of the strongest to hit Indonesia in recent years, was centred in the Indian Ocean off Sumatra's west coast, 33km (21 miles) below the Earth's surface.

Some of those affected by the quake have been e-mailing BBC News Online telling of their ordeals.

Florence from Singapore said: "The first tremor was the strongest and we could not really stand properly.

"We live in the tallest floor and are the worst affected. Downstairs, people dressed in their pyjamas were out on the streets, helpless and full of anxiety."

[jason]

OH NO NOT MORE DEATHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On an easter weekend as well............last time boxing day................what next??

[grannyclaret]

the first one was xmas week and this one is easter week ..SPOOKEY.....

[jason]

LATEST

Up to 2,000 people are feared dead after a powerful earthquake rocked Indonesia - the same area devastated by the tsunami disaster in December.

A massive rescue operation is still under way after the quake, measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale, struck off the main island of Sumatra.

The tiny island of Nias of the coast of Sumatra bore the brunt of the quake and suffered the highest number of casualties.

Officials said around 70 per cent of the buildings there had been destroyed.

The tremor struck at about midnight local time and spreading terror across western Indonesia, Sri Lanka and coastal parts of India, Malaysia and Thailand.

As news of the quake emerged, authorities were warned to take "immediate action," including evacuating coastlines within 600 miles of the epicentre - 880 miles northwest of Jakarta and around 100 miles southeast of where the 9.3 magnitude Boxing Day quake hit.

But there are no signs of a tsunami and alerts have been withdrawn in most areas.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by grannyclaret

the first one was xmas week and this one is easter week ..SPOOKEY.....

Quite right grannyclaret, makes one wonder..........

[jason]

Aid flights arriving after Indonesia quake

The first planeloads of aid have arrived in Indonesia as rescuers comb through the rubble on the island of Nias for survivors following Easter Monday's earthquake.

Poor weather and a shortage of fuel are said to be hampering the massive relief effort.

The Foreign Office is looking into reports that a handful of Britons may be missing although it is not clear if they were caught up in the aftermath of the quake.

Up to 1,000 people are feared dead after the powerful earthquake rocked the same area devastated by the tsunami disaster in December.

The massive rescue operation is still under way after the quake, measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale, struck off the main island of Sumatra.

The tiny island of Nias of the coast of Sumatra bore the brunt of the quake and suffered the highest number of casualties.

Officials said around 70 per cent of the buildings there had been destroyed.