100 DIE IN WAKE OF TSUNAMI; EARTHQUAKE SHAKES PADANG
Tsunami Ravages American Samoa; Earthquake Shakes Padang
On Tuesday morning around 6:30 AM an earthquake shook American Samoa, causing a massive tsunami to destroy the small village of Leone - killing nearly one hundred residents and causing countless others to go missing. The earthquake measured between 8.0 and 8.3 on the Richter scale, and President Obama has declared the situation a major disaster for the U.S. Territory with a population of 65,000. FEMA workers have already been deployed to bring aid.
Many residents received warning of the approaching tsunami waves and were able to move safely to higher ground. On Tuesday night tsunami warnings were issued for California and Hawaii, but have since been recalled. "Based on the location of the event being outside the Pacific Basin, the earthquake was not sufficient to generate a tsunami damaging to California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coasts," said a statement from the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.
According to the WCATWC a second earthquake struck Sumatra, Indonesia at 3:16 AM Pacific Daylight Time on September 30 with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7. The earthquake's epicenter was located about 33 miles west of Padang and killed more than 77 people.
It remains unlcear whether the two catastrophic events are related. "The simple answer is we can't speculate on a connection," the U.S. Geological Survey's Carrieann Bedwell told CNN in the following report. "Both are in highly seismic areas."
More updates will be made as they become available.
The Transcript Below was issued by NOAA:
EVALUATION
SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. IT MAY HAVE BEEN DESTRUCTIVE ALONG COASTS NEAR THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. FOR THOSE AREAS - WHEN NO MAJOR WAVES ARE OBSERVED FOR TWO HOURS AFTER THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL OR DAMAGING WAVES HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS THEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE THREAT IS PASSED. DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS. AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
NO TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS FOR OTHER COASTAL AREAS ALTHOUGH SOME MAY EXPERIENCE SMALL SEA LEVEL CHANGES. FOR ALL AREAS COVERED BY THIS CENTER...THE TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH ARE CANCELLED.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
THE WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER WILL ISSUE PRODUCTS FOR ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...WASHINGTON...OREGON...CALIFORNIA.
An image of the earthquake that struck Sumatra at 3 AM September, 30, 2009.
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READER COMMENTS
Wed Sep30, 2009, 3:53 PM
I know its not that close to the epic center but is there any information about bali? The frontpage said something about 'bali trembles'. Thing is that one of my best mates is travelling thru indonesia.
Wed Sep30, 2009, 4:32 PM
I am very concerned as I believe we will see more of these in the next few years. Do you at this point have any video coverage of the actual Tsunami? Sincerely, Dan Riddle
Wed Sep30, 2009, 5:58 PM
God Bless everybody affected and we shall pray for them.
Wed Sep30, 2009, 8:42 PM
Praying for all those affected by the tsunami.
Wed Sep30, 2009, 11:39 PM
My hope and prayers go out to all the people of Samoa and my love goes to all the people who lost their lives.
Thu Oct 1, 2009, 4:35 AM
Just got back from Bali and i was staying at bingin when we had a 6.4 earthquake on the saturday morning about 6.00am.Details on internet.Enough to shake me up.
Thu Oct 1, 2009, 11:11 AM
god bless those who have suffered loss and depravity b/c of these events. we will be praying for all felt the effects and ask that god will do what he does best...make good, what was meant for bad! love.
Thu Oct 1, 2009, 11:17 AM
que dios bendiga atodos y derrame su misericordia atodos y mis amigos que estan ayi !!
Thu Oct 1, 2009, 11:35 AM
how do i find out the names of those that have passed in am. samoa?
Thu Oct 1, 2009, 12:13 PM
With the news of this terrible tragedy in areas that many within the surf community frequently visit and where we are treated like family while enjoying the surf and the incredible hospitality of these people, can we reach out to the surfing community and ask for contributions to help out our friends. Maybe Kelly or some of the WCT participants could send out a message through your internet connections and band together to help in some way. I am ready and willing to contribute so just let me know how?
Thu Oct 1, 2009, 2:13 PM
Lets not forget Samoa, which by many reports was hit harder than American Samoa. Home to several surf camps that by some reports have been destroyed.
Fri Oct 9, 2009, 8:00 PM
Both American Samoa and Samoa both suffered the loss of loved ones. I am from both islands, and I am still here today. I have close friends who have lost a sister, a grandmother and a dad in that most tragic incident that occured here on our islands. I must say that my thoughts and prayers are with the people here in the villages of Pago Pago and Leone... God Bless and Take Care... Manuia Lau Malaga!!!
Wed Oct21, 2009, 7:11 PM
Yes, i am here in american samoa and i don't want to see this again. On Sunday after the tsunami we felt so different when our priest lecture during the service(lauga). I felt so sorry for the people that died from tsunami when it is not their time for death and especially the young children...may god bless american samoa and the whole pacific islands pray to him and beg him for he was not the one that did this it was us the people... n eways, i have some things that i heard and it made me feel scare and can't even sleep at night and day nor doing homeworks..what i heard was that next week in our small island that there will be an eight hour tsunami here in tutuila on the 27th or still maybe on the 29 pls god help us, it was said that there was a warning from samoa that there was a saying that no one can read it, but there were some people that read so called mogike they said "be prepared the next thing that's gonna come its gonna be worst" then state the date 27 or 29.pls alofa mai
Fri Oct23, 2009, 8:37 AM
I am from West Sumatera (Padang) Indonesia but I stay in Jakarta. Thanks God all of my families survived from the earthquake that hit Padang last 30 September 2009. Total victims of the disaster reached the massive number: 1.117 persons, some were unidentified because burried in 10 metres high avalanche which was burried one distric! All of them then stated as dead, it's horrible! The tectonic earthquake destroyed almost 80% of the public infrastructure, residents, roads etc in Padang which was before one of the nicest city in Indonesia. Need 1 year waiting for rehabilitation since warning of several big risk earthquakes still possible to hit west coast of Sumatra. Now the people are suffering and survive to live in emergency tents and temporary housing. International surfer's paradise on the west coast, Mentawai island and Nias island are also warned for the earthquakes and tsunami possibility.