A powerful earthquake struck off of Samoa and American Samoa this morning resulting in a tsunami which did extensive damage to coastal areas of Samoa and reached over 100 yards inland off Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa where a 5-foot wave was reported.
There have been reports of fatalities in the Independent State of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa) where the entire coastal village of Sau Sau Beach Fale on the southern coast of the Samoan island of Upolu is reported to have been totally destroyed.
There are conflicting reports as to the intensity of the earthquake ranging from a magnitude 7.8 to magnitude 8.3.
Tsunami warnings and watches were initially issued for almost all of the islands in the Pacific. At 11:36 a.m. Hawaii time, all watches and warnings were canceled. Initial reports are of minimal tsunami wave activity in Rarotonga (1.5 ft.) and Papeete, Tahiti (.4 ft.).
The initial tsunami watch for Hawaii was canceled at 10:23 a.m. Hawaii time and changed to a tsunami advisory which will remain in effect until 7:00 p.m. Hawaii time.
According to Pacific Tsunami Center director Charles McCreery, as reported in the Honolulu Advertiser, sea level changes of 3 to 4 feet could take place between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Hawaii. Due to potentially usual currents and sea level changes, all beach parks on the Big Island of Hawaii will remain closed until Wednesday morning. Beach goers on Kauai, Maui and Oahu have been advised to stay out of the ocean today.
About.com's Geology Guide is discussing and updating news of the earthquake itself in his blog.
We will also continue to update you as more news of potential tsunamis are made available.
There have been reports of fatalities in the Independent State of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa) where the entire coastal village of Sau Sau Beach Fale on the southern coast of the Samoan island of Upolu is reported to have been totally destroyed.
There are conflicting reports as to the intensity of the earthquake ranging from a magnitude 7.8 to magnitude 8.3.
Tsunami warnings and watches were initially issued for almost all of the islands in the Pacific. At 11:36 a.m. Hawaii time, all watches and warnings were canceled. Initial reports are of minimal tsunami wave activity in Rarotonga (1.5 ft.) and Papeete, Tahiti (.4 ft.).
The initial tsunami watch for Hawaii was canceled at 10:23 a.m. Hawaii time and changed to a tsunami advisory which will remain in effect until 7:00 p.m. Hawaii time.
According to Pacific Tsunami Center director Charles McCreery, as reported in the Honolulu Advertiser, sea level changes of 3 to 4 feet could take place between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Hawaii. Due to potentially usual currents and sea level changes, all beach parks on the Big Island of Hawaii will remain closed until Wednesday morning. Beach goers on Kauai, Maui and Oahu have been advised to stay out of the ocean today.
About.com's Geology Guide is discussing and updating news of the earthquake itself in his blog.
We will also continue to update you as more news of potential tsunamis are made available.
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