A fairly bright day but with a lot of high cloud about, making it a hazy afternoon.
As is being extensively reported, a powerful earthquake, measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, has occurred off the coast of Chile. The quake caused extensive damage in Chile and the deathtoll currently stands at 78. Because the tremor was centred below the sea, a tsunami was generated, which came ashore in Chile some 19 minutes after the initial shock. It was 2.34 metres, 7.7 feet, in height. This tsunami is now rolling across the Pacific, and the entire Pacific coastline is under warning for a tsunami.
Warnings are issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center for the entire Pacific basin, minus the Pacific coastline of the USA and Canada. These are covered by the West Coast and Alaska Warning Center. Finally, sections of the Australian coastline are under warning from their Bureau of Meteorology. It will take a full 24 hours from the time of the quake (0634 GMT) for the tsunami to make its way across the Pacific, in spite of its horizontal speed of 500 mph. All warning centers carry advice and information on what to do if you are in a warning area.
Another terrible frightening natural disaster quake. 8.8 magnitude is huge. No wonder some thought it was the end of the world as reported. I am always glad to get your report on such disturbing developments. Two major earth quakes so close together. I hope it does not mean the end of the world really is coming! But we know it was the end of the world for those who were caught in it and could not save themselves. And that is always a sobering thought. A tsunami would not be good either. Hope any created by this quake are not too bad.
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