Indonesia Earthquake: Tsunami Warning Issued Following Magnitude 8.6 Temblor
In this image made from Indonesian television TV One, people on motorcycles and cars flee after a strong earthquake hit in Aceh in Indonesia, Wednesday, April 11, 2012. A tsunami watch was issued for countries across the Indian Ocean after a large earthquake hit waters off Indonesia on Wednesday, triggering widespread panic as residents along coastlines fled to high ground in cars and on the backs of motorcycles. (AP Photo/TV One via AP Video)
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — Cries of panic and fervent prayers rang out Wednesday as Indonesians rushed toward high ground after two strong earthquakes raised fears of a killer tsunami.
Alerts were raised as far away as Africa and Australia but this time the big waves didn't come.
In western Indonesia, distraught women ran into the streets clinging to crying children as back-to-back tsunami warnings revived memories of the 2004 disaster that claimed 230,000 lives in nearly a dozen countries. Others screamed "God is great" as they poured from their homes or searched frantically for family members.
"God! What have we done to deserve this?" one mother screamed as residents around her piled into cars and onto the backs of motorcycles. "What sins have we committed?"
Two deadly tsunamis in the last decade – the most recent off Japan just one year ago – have left the world much better prepared.
Sirens sounded along coastlines and warnings spread like wildfire by mobile phone text messaging. Though often chaotic, evacuations began immediately, with streets clogged with traffic, especially in Aceh province, where 170,000 people were killed in 2004.
Patients were wheeled out of hospitals, some still lying in their beds with drips attached to their arms. And at least one hotel guest was slightly injured when he jumped out of his window.
Countries all along the Indian Ocean – from Australia and India to as far off as Africa – received alerts from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii saying they should prepare for the possibility of seismically charged waves.
Hour later the tsunami warnings were lifted, and damage from the tremors was minimal – something experts attributed to the unique nature of the fault line.
The only wave to hit was less than 30 inches (80 centimeters) high, rolling to Indonesia's emptied coastline.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the first 8.6-magnitude quake was a shallow 14 miles (22 kilometers), striking in the sea 270 miles (435 kilometers) off Aceh's coast – making it the sixth-largest temblor in the last half-century.
Just as the region was sighing relief, an 8.2-magnitude aftershock followed, again causing only slight damage.
Experts said that's because both tremors were what are known as "strike slip" quakes, where friction and shaking along the fault line occurs horizontally, creating more of a vibration in the water.
In contrast, mega-thrust quakes – like the one that hit off Aceh in 2004 and off Japan just over a year ago – cause the seabed to rise or drop vertically, displacing massive amounts of water and sending towering waves racing across the ocean at jetliner speeds.
Roger Musson, a seismologist at the British geological survey, said initially he'd been "fearing the worst."
"But as soon as I discovered what type of earthquake it was ... I felt a lot better."
The tremors were felt in neighboring Malaysia, where high-rise buildings shook, and Thailand, India, Singapore and Bangladesh.
Buildings and beaches emptied out, also in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
But it was Aceh where the real chaos broke loose.
"I'm so scared, I don't want to lose my family again," cried Aisyah Husaini, whose parents and a son were killed in the 2004 tsunami. She clung to her two children in a mosque in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, where hundreds of people sheltered.
Sitting nearby was 52-year-old Nasir Djamil, who said he and his family weren't taking any chances – they planned to spend the night.
"For sure, this has reawakened all those horrible nightmares," he said. "But I do feel like we learned something, that we know much better now what to do."
The World Meteorological Organization agreed, saying communication systems set up after the 2004 tsunami appeared to have worked well.
"Our records indicate that all the national meteorological services in the countries at risk by this tsunami have received the warnings in under five minutes," said Maryam Golnaraghi, the head of WMO's disaster risk reduction program.
The alert was sent out by the U.S. National Weather Service, which operates a tsunami warning station in Hawaii, she said.
Indonesia, a sprawling archipelagic nation of 240 million people, straddles a series of fault lines that makes it prone to volcanic and seismic activity.
Aceh accounted for nearly three-quarters of those killed in the giant 9.1-magnitude quake and tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004.
Aftershocks from Wednesday's quake are likely to persist for weeks or months. Subsequent earthquakes can be as strong or stronger than the initial temblor, but they mostly weaken over time.
___
Associated Press reporters Margie Mason in Hanoi, Muneeza Naqvi in New Delhi and Frank Jordans in Geneva contributed to this report.
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BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) — Cries of panic and fervent prayers rang out Wednesday as Indonesians rushed toward high ground after two strong earthquakes raised fears of a killer tsunami.
...
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) — Cries of panic and fervent prayers rang out Wednesday as Indonesians rushed toward high ground after two strong earthquakes raised fears of a killer tsunami.
...
Geologically speaking, the earth is a living moving planet of the universe. It has calm times and times of major upheavel. The past we learn from, the present is our actual experience.
Annabekka: Geologically speaking, the earth is a living moving planet of
lol it'l all be over soon if you believe in the apocalypse, if not then listen to some of the liberal news media tell you theres nothing to worry about EVER.
Wizard0104: lol it'l all be over soon if you believe in
that why i dont understand the reasoning behind people living in certain area's. Why live in Kansas if you constantly have to worry about tornadoes? Why live in Florida when one hurricane season could wipe you out? Why live in Texas if one light match could burn down an entire area because of the dryness. Makes no sense!
Felicia_Hunter: that why i dont understand the reasoning behind people living
The difference is I'm not imagining that I am helping anyone with my comments. I just post here to let off steam. On the other hand this (sadly) influential televangelist seems to have the idea that to help is to tell people that certain countries encounter disasters because they are downright sinful, made pacts with the devil, promote homosexuality, etc. I have no problems with him asking his flock to pray for people, just the falsehoods he spreads when he asks them to do so.
Therefore, SCREW PAT ROBERTSON!! And all the false prophets (profits) like him.
Wayne_T: The difference is I'm not imagining that I am helping
if you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes and you know it, is it Gods fault you live there??? Same as those who live in tornado alley. God has nothing to do with people dying who choose to live in an area that is prone to any disaster as I type these words from the comfort of my So Cal home in the hills, hmmm hills rise because of fault movements which happen all the time just not the Big One which like everything its not a matter of if, its a matter of when. It is my choice to live here and take my chances. This is my home... my choice
Edward_Alarcon: if you live in an area that is prone to
I agree with you 100%. Its reasons like this im glad i in the peaceful suburbs just north of philadelphia. The only think i we EVER have to worry about is blizzards which are rare and usually mild where i live
carloarnone: I agree with you 100%. Its reasons like this im
they still have a choice many stay because they choose to. Many Americans were born in ghettos doesn't mean they have to stay there. I was one of them even a person in the ghetto can get out if they want to... I know other people personally that have done this because they made a choice to do so... guess that makes them shallow also
Edward_Alarcon: they still have a choice many stay because they choose
The earth doesn't tilt back and forth during the seasons. The earth's tilt remains stable as it orbits the sun. Therefore, tectonic plate shifting is not affected by the earth's "tilt". Time to brush up on your science before you start bashing the people quoting the bible.
amanda4706: The earth doesn't tilt back and forth during the seasons.
I forecasted this quake on my quake site forum under Predictions:
earthquakeepicenterforum.com [posted on my site]
Indian Ocean, Sumatra, 6.0-7.0+ Now-April 30
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2012, 03:42:13 PM »
Prediction Made on March 30
Indian Ocean, Sumatra, 6-7.0+
Now - April 30 (most likely sooner during lunar cycles; perhaps within 1 wk.)
Probability 65%
Based on gut instinct, we're in Aries (ring of Fire), when I saw the recent quake it sent a cue "foreshock"; seismically active region, overdue...If it does happen, over 7.0, tsunami alert (at least), probably a shallow eq. Based on history as well.
Cal_Orey: I forecasted this quake on my quake site forum under
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FAKHRURRADZIE GADE 04/11/12 03:41 PM ET Associated Press