8.9 (updated 8.7) QUAKE off the coast of Sumatra! Oh my......

Magnitude 8.9 (Preliminary magnitude — update expected within 15 minutes)
Date-Time Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 08:38:30 UTC
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 02:38:30 PM at epicenter

Location 2.043°N, 92.518°E
Depth 33 km (20.5 miles) set by location program
Region OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
Distances 495 km (308 miles) SW (219°) from Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
1027 km (638 miles) W (263°) from KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia

Location Uncertainty Error estimate not available
Parameters NST= 14, Nph=0, Dmin=0 km, Rmss=0 sec, Gp=198°,
M-type="moment" magnitude from initial P wave (tsuboi method) (Mi/Mwp), Version=B
Source NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Event ID pt12102000

source


This just happened about ten minutes ago...it is still being reviewed. I will update this with info as it comes in...off to look at tsunami warnings. This could be a bad one...only 33 km deep. I HATE this big of a quake that close to the sleeping giant....




image credit

reply to post by westcoast


Wow,that's huge. I hope the fatality count is small.

I can't believe how many big magnitude earthquakes there have been lately.... It's unnerving to say the least.

reply to post by westcoast


tsunami watch is on, for indian ocean only...

see: ptwc.weather.gov...

seeya

000
WEIO21 PHEB 110845
TSUIOX

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 0845Z 11 APR 2012

THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.

... AN INDIAN-OCEAN-WIDE TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR

INDONESIA / INDIA / SRI LANKA / AUSTRALIA / MYANMAR / THAILAND /
MALDIVES / UNITED KINGDOM / MALAYSIA / MAURITIUS / REUNION /
SEYCHELLES / PAKISTAN / SOMALIA / OMAN / MADAGASCAR / IRAN /
UAE / YEMEN / COMORES / BANGLADESH / TANZANIA / MOZAMBIQUE /
KENYA / CROZET ISLANDS / KERGUELEN ISLANDS / SOUTH AFRICA /
SINGAPORE

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND
ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 0839Z 11 APR 2012
COORDINATES - 2.0 NORTH 92.5 EAST
LOCATION - OFF W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
MAGNITUDE - 8.7

EVALUATION

EARTHQUAKES OF THIS SIZE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A
WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THAT CAN AFFECT COASTLINES ACROSS
THE ENTIRE INDIAN OCEAN BASIN.

HOWEVER - IT IS NOT KNOWN THAT A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. THIS
WATCH IS BASED ONLY ON THE EARTHQUAKE EVALUATION. AUTHORITIES IN
THE REGION SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF A WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI.

ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS
WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL
ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE
LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN
SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

Please see the source for the full warning, including arrival times.

Just heard the news on the radio !!! .....WOW ....Tsunami Warning issued for the whole region !

There have been some pretty big quakes with tsunami warnings and all that came out was a tiny little wave. Any bets on what this will be?

reply to post by boncho


At that magnitude and depth, and location in the ocean (type of fault/etc.) the potential is great, unfortunately.

The magnitude is indeed significant for worry.

I forecast over the next several days and even weeks, lots of doomsayers will be making predictions, or claiming to have predicted this, telling us about dreams they claim that had or are having, and other such blind associations.

Back to reality, I hope the impact on human life has not been as significant as the magnitude.

Any one who has flash should start looking for live cams on the coast of Indonesia and India.

I don't have flash and am on a tablet or else I would myself.

This is in a similar locale as a magnitude 9 event. Unfortunately a tsunami sounds likely at this point.

Originally posted by boncho
There have been some pretty big quakes with tsunami warnings and all that came out was a tiny little wave. Any bets on what this will be?

without knowing what's happened under the ocean, there's no way of telling until it happens, or doesn't happen. If there's been alot of ground/seabed shifted, then the likelyhood of a tsunami will increase. Hopefully we'll not get to watch another dissaster, live on telly! Know people in the region from other forums, fingers crossed anyone on here from there is safe and unharmed.

Wow, that region just can't catch a break! 2005, now this? I'm no earthquake expert by any stretch...and I know this is the "ring of fire" but this seems unusual at least in terms of EQ's measured since data has been available to us.. two 8.0+ or greater (I think 2005 was 8.7) in a span of 7 years in the same region seems insane to me. Am I wrong experts?

they issued a Tsunami warning, wonder if there was any?



sirens must be going off all over Asia-Pacific

The quake was located 495 km from coast

First wave expected to hit coast at 5.21 pm!!!!!!!!!!!

reply to post by westcoast


Just about to post a thread on it.... another one in that region!!

Indonesia has had it bad over recent years..... hope this one doesnt cause Tsunami although routers are saying its possible:

Indonesia issued a tsunami warning after a huge 8.9 magnitude earthquake off its westernmost province Aceh, leading panicked locals to scramble out of their houses to seek refuge.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said an Indian Ocean wide tsunami alert was in effect, after a quake that the U.S Geological Survey said was 308 miles southwest of the province's capital Banda Aceh.

The quake was felt as far away as Singapore, Thailand and India.

reply to post by Militarywarfare


Hopefully the depth of the quake will dampen the blow to the coast. Unfortunately, with the history of the region, if a tsunami does hit its liable to cause major damage.

Keep the thoughts positive, but be prepared for bad news... I have my fingers crossed.

reply to post by Militarywarfare


We'll hear about the tsunami in like 30-40 mins, am i right?

reply to post by Militarywarfare


Thanks for the updates!

I have to head to bed guys..(2 am here) please feel free to update this thread or jump over to Putermans. I'm sure he'll be all over this as it unfolds.

Praying for those that may be affected by this!!!

Alpide belt has been affected.

Originally posted by Militarywarfare
First wave expected to hit coast at 5.21 pm!!!!!!!!!!!

5.21PM WHICH TIME?

how many hrs from now?