Massive Quake In Indonesia, Tsunamis Feared (Wizbang)

A powerful aftershock in the same area as December 26th's devastating quake in Indonesia has set off a series of tsunami warnings and evacuations.

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) - A major earthquake struck off the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra Island late Monday, and officials issued a tsunami warning for as far away as Sri Lanka. Residents of Banda Aceh fled their homes in panic.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the temblor, described by one of the agency's geologists as an aftershock of the devastating Dec. 26 quake, measured a magnitude of 8.2.

In Banda Aceh, the Sumatran city that was hit hardest by December's tsunami, the quake cut electricity and thousands poured into the streets, most getting into vehicles to flee low-lying areas.

Tsunami warnings were issued in Thailand, Japan and Sri Lanka. Authorities said it could take several hours to know whether the quake had generated a devastating tsunami.

Let's hope the region has it's act together in getting warning out. Residents who felt the quake are hopefully now attune to the danger of possible tsunamis to hightail it to much higher ground.

(h/t Michael King)

Update: PunditGuy has been following the story all day, collecting news accounts. No tsunamis yet, but hundreds of buildings destroyed and possibly some loss of life in those buildings.

Update 2: Hundreds May Be Dead in Indonesia Quake [AP]

Comments (5)

Was watching one network, d... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by TheEnigma | March 28, 2005 1:49 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

TheEnigma:

Was watching one network, don't recall which, and an "expert" said that most of the engery from the quake was directed southward so the likelyhood of a severe tsunami was reduced.

Posted on March 28, 2005 13:49

I reprinted <a href="http:/... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by sortapundit | March 28, 2005 2:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

sortapundit:

I reprinted this article I wrote on Dec 26th (reprinted at the Command Post) about the mechanics of earthquakes and tsunamis.

For what it's worth, my professional opinion is that there is little danger of major tsunamis from either the quake or its aftershocks.

Posted on March 28, 2005 14:35

Rove did it.... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Just Me | March 28, 2005 2:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Just Me:

Rove did it.

Posted on March 28, 2005 14:42

Time to evacuate all the pe... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by firstbrokenangel | March 28, 2005 4:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

firstbrokenangel:

Time to evacuate all the people of the islands because new maps have to be made and not enough room for everyone, so might as well go elsewhere - ALL OF THEM.

I wonder why Jay hasn't mentioned the 3 earthquates that I even felt here in NH.

Cindy

Posted on March 28, 2005 16:29

I don't know if skybird's c... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Josh Cohen | March 29, 2005 9:14 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Josh Cohen:

I don't know if skybird's comment was intended to be humorous, but I found it funny.

When I got to the office yesterday and saw the three news channels (Fox/CNN/MSNBC) reporting on it, I turned to my morning person and said, "well, here come the tsunami warnings"... before the news even said "tsunami warnings" on their little chyron thingies.

Yes, it's all well and good that we've learned lessons from the Tsunami of 2004, but just as South Floridians were decked by Hurricane Andrew (1991) because they didn't believe it would hit them -- since there hadn't been one in a while -- so too will the tsunami warnings be ignored after about seven or eight more powerful earthquakes that don't spawn tsunamis.

Humans have very short memories.

Posted on March 29, 2005 09:14