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Tsunami spreads through Pacific | Tsunami spreads through Pacific |
(30 minutes later) | |
Nations around the Pacific Ocean have been pounded by tsunami waves triggered by a 8.8 magnitude earthquake in central Chile. | Nations around the Pacific Ocean have been pounded by tsunami waves triggered by a 8.8 magnitude earthquake in central Chile. |
Japan is the latest country to issue a warning, with waves of up to 3m (9ft) predicted, and authorities have ordered the evacuation of 10,000 people. | |
But in most areas the danger is thought to have passed. | |
There were few reports of major damage, but there were at least five deaths in Chile's Juan Fernandez island group. | There were few reports of major damage, but there were at least five deaths in Chile's Juan Fernandez island group. |
The southern Chilean port of Talcahuano is also thought to have been badly hit. | The southern Chilean port of Talcahuano is also thought to have been badly hit. |
Fishing boats there were thrown out of the water and port facilities damaged. | Fishing boats there were thrown out of the water and port facilities damaged. |
Warning systems have improved since the 2004 Indonesia quake sparked a tsunami that killed nearly 250,000 people. | Warning systems have improved since the 2004 Indonesia quake sparked a tsunami that killed nearly 250,000 people. |
Nations and regions affected by the Pacific "Ring of Fire" all sounded alerts, trying to estimate the anticipated time of arrival of any tsunami. | Nations and regions affected by the Pacific "Ring of Fire" all sounded alerts, trying to estimate the anticipated time of arrival of any tsunami. |
Ordinary stormy day | Ordinary stormy day |
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had warned of "widespread damage", but later said waves were not as high as predicted. | The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had warned of "widespread damage", but later said waves were not as high as predicted. |
A warning was issued in Hawaii for a possible tsunami | A warning was issued in Hawaii for a possible tsunami |
A geophysicist at the centre, Gerard Fryer, told the BBC that the tsunami's impact was small because the earthquake occurred in shallow water. | A geophysicist at the centre, Gerard Fryer, told the BBC that the tsunami's impact was small because the earthquake occurred in shallow water. |
The earthquake was "big enough to do significant damage, but not big enough to do anything large in the far field", he said. | The earthquake was "big enough to do significant damage, but not big enough to do anything large in the far field", he said. |
However, large waves struck Chile's Juan Fernandez island group, reaching halfway into one inhabited area and killing five people. Several more are missing. | However, large waves struck Chile's Juan Fernandez island group, reaching halfway into one inhabited area and killing five people. Several more are missing. |
Two aid ships are reported to be on their way. | Two aid ships are reported to be on their way. |
Part of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia were hit by a 4m (13ft) wave, but no casualties were reported, AFP news agency said. | Part of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia were hit by a 4m (13ft) wave, but no casualties were reported, AFP news agency said. |
In Tahiti, traffic was banned on roads less than 500m from sea, and residents on low-lying land were told to get to higher ground, but the first tsunami waves were smaller there, measuring only 36cm. | In Tahiti, traffic was banned on roads less than 500m from sea, and residents on low-lying land were told to get to higher ground, but the first tsunami waves were smaller there, measuring only 36cm. |
New Zealand warned waves up to 3m could hit the main North and South Islands plus outlying islands, but there were no reports of casualties or major damage. | New Zealand warned waves up to 3m could hit the main North and South Islands plus outlying islands, but there were no reports of casualties or major damage. |
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii was monitoring the waves | The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii was monitoring the waves |
Sirens were sounded in Hawaii to alert residents to the tsunami threat several hours before waves were expected. | Sirens were sounded in Hawaii to alert residents to the tsunami threat several hours before waves were expected. |
The first waves hit about 2200 GMT, after water began moving away from the shore at Hilo Bay on the Big Island before returning. | The first waves hit about 2200 GMT, after water began moving away from the shore at Hilo Bay on the Big Island before returning. |
But correspondents say that, although 8ft (2.5m) waves had been predicted, the islands experienced nothing noticeably different from an ordinary stormy day. | But correspondents say that, although 8ft (2.5m) waves had been predicted, the islands experienced nothing noticeably different from an ordinary stormy day. |
Hawaiian officials later lifted the tsunami warning. | Hawaiian officials later lifted the tsunami warning. |
Australian officials warned of "possible dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding" from Sydney to Brisbane. | Australian officials warned of "possible dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding" from Sydney to Brisbane. |
Japan may be hit at 0300 GMT on Sunday, the country's meteorological agency said, calling for people to be fully alert. | Japan may be hit at 0300 GMT on Sunday, the country's meteorological agency said, calling for people to be fully alert. |