Powerful Earthquake hits Solomon Islands - Tsunami Alert to Provinces fronting Pacific Ocean issued

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific early Wednesday at 09:12 am (Philippine Time), located at 10.9ºSouth/165.1ºEast with depth of 33 km, the PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY (PHIVOLCS) reported, triggering a tsunami.

As reported by (CNN) A tsunami warning was issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, and Wallis and Futuna, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. 

A tsunami watch was in effect for more places: the Marshall Islands, Howland and Baker, Pohnpei, Tokelau, Samoa, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, American Samoa, Tonga, Australia, Niue, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Wake Island, Chuuk, Jarvis Island, Guam, Northern Marianas, Palmyra Island, Yap, Johnston Island, Minamitorishima and Pelau.

The event seems to be localized to the region, Shiro said, and authorities are still waiting to see if they want to expand the alert.

The New Caledonia High Commission in the capital of Noumea ordered the immediate evacuation of coastal residents on the eastern coast of New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands.

The center of the quake was located some 360 miles east-southeast of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, the USGS said. It was reported to be 3.6 miles deep.

The main quake was preceded by a 6.3-magnitude quake in the region and was followed by several others, the largest of which had a magnitude of 6.6, the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, PHIVOLCS recently issued a Tsunami Alert Level 1:

Tsunami Bulletin No.: 1
February 6, 2013
9:45 AM

TSUNAMI ALERT LEVEL 1
Stand-by for Possible Evacuation

A strong distant earthquake occurred near Santa Cruz Island at 09:12 am (Philippine Time), located at 10.9ºSouth/165.1ºEast with depth of 33 km and a preliminary magnitude of 8.0. An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii will monitor sea level gauges nearest the region and report if any tsunami wave activity is observed.

PHIVOLCS Tsunami ALERT Level is 1. NO EVACUATION ORDER is in effect but communities along the east coast of the country (listed below) are advised to wait for further information and to prepare for possible evacuation.

Coastal areas fronting the Pacific Ocean of the following provinces should keep watch:

• Batanes Group of Islands
• Cagayan
• Ilocos Norte
• Isabela
• Quezon
• Aurora
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Catanduanes
• Sorsogon
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Davao Oriental
• Davao del Sur

PHIVOLCS is monitoring the sea level changes in the epicentral area and will relay significant observations to concerned authorities.

7.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Philippine Islands Region

A 9.9-magnitude earthquake hits the Philippine Islands Region on Friday night, August 31, 2012 at around 08:47:34 PM at epicenter.

See details on images below: 

From USGS:

From NOAA's National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Center:

From coolbuster:

A powerful earthquake measured at Magnitude 7.9 has hit Sulangan in Eastern Samar, Philippines around 8:50 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake’s epicenter, which has a depth of 33.00 km or 20.51 miles, was located 139 kilometers East of Sulangan, or 161 km (100 miles) East Southeast of Borongan and 174 km (108 miles) Northeast of Surigao.

It was felt in most of Mindanao and the Visayas regions including the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cebu, Bohol and Tacloban.

According to @RescuePH on Twitter, PHIVOLCS recorded the earthquake, which lasted about 30 seconds, at 7.7 magnitude.

The agency also reportedly said that “due to the strength of the earthquake, the formation of a tsunami is possible.”

PHIVOLCS issued Tsunami Alert Level 3, according to @RescuePH. According to PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum, a tsunami alert has been raised in coastal areas of Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte, and Samar.

Reports said that residents living in coastal areas in Northern and Eastern Samar, Leyte, Surigao del Sur, and Surigao Norte have been urged to evacuate and were advised to cooperate with their respective local government units (LGUs).

Solidum said the estimated wave height of the possible tsunami is around 1 meter to 1.5 meters.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued an “Expanding Regional Tsunami Warning” over Indonesia, Philippines, Belau, Yap, Taiwan, Japan, Guam, N. Marianas, and Papua New Guinea.

A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Chuuk, Marcus Island, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Marshall Island, Wake Island, Solomon Island, Russia, and Nauru.

5.5 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Dinagat Islands

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake rocks Dinagat Islands on Wednesday afternoon, September 7, 2011, but no casualties or damage to property were reported, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) posted in their website.