Singapore shielded from tsunami waves

Straits Times 12 Mar 11;

SINGAPORE was sheltered from the tsunami caused by yesterday's earthquake off Japan as the Philippines stands in the way.

But alerts were issued across many of the Pacific islands and places as far afield as Peru.

Last night, Indonesia and the Philippines said slightly taller waves had reached their coasts without causing damage, while Taiwan downgraded its tsunami warning.

Yesterday's quake had a magnitude of 8.9, according to the United States Geological Survey, making it among the largest of all time. It struck about 430km off Tokyo.

Most of the force moved north-west towards the Japanese coast, or south-east towards South America, explained tectonics expert Kusnowidjaja Megawati of Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Earth Observatory of Singapore.

Earthquakes of this magnitude often cause aftershocks, which could develop into smaller tsunamis over several days.

But Earth Observatory researcher Adam Switzer, who studies tsunamis, added: 'Singapore is very, very unlikely to be affected by the earthquake. At worst you might see small oscillations in the sea.'

In other words, the water level might rise, but that is all.

The National Environment Agency also said Singapore was unlikely to be affected, but it would monitor the situation closely.

However, the Republic could potentially be affected by earthquakes closer to home. When quakes struck Sumatra in 2007 and 2009, tremors were reported in Singapore.

Dr Megawati said the extent of any damage would depend on the magnitude of the quake and its distance from Singapore. Areas on bedrock, such as Jurong and Bukit Timah, would also be much less likely to feel it than those on soft soil.

The Republic is about 400km from the nearest fault line in Sumatra.

As for tsunamis, a 2009 study by researchers from NTU and Taiwan's National Central University found it was unlikely that a tsunami caused by a quake at the Philippines' Manila Trench would have a significant impact on Singapore.

Dr Megawati said the Manila Trench would be the most likely place for a quake tsunami that affects Singapore to originate from.

But he said NTU's models predict that any impact on Singapore would be restricted to a 0.8m rise in water levels, because the South China Sea is shallow to begin with. Singapore would also be shielded from a tsunami originating from a quake off the west coast of Sumatra.

LESTER KOK AND GRACE CHUA

Fears of major disaster subside
Smaller-than-expected waves hit west Pacific
Straits Times 12 Mar 11;

TOKYO: A tsunami warning was issued for almost the entire Pacific Basin soon after yesterday's magnitude 8.9 earthquake, but fears of a massive international disaster subsided after smaller-than-expected waves hit the west Pacific.

In Taiwan, the authorities said minor tsunamis reached the island's east and north-east coasts but they measured only around 10cm in height, causing no damage. The alert was later lifted as no more tsunamis were expected.

Indonesia likewise reported that a small tsunami hit its North Sulawesi and Maluku islands, and that the alert has now been lifted.

Warnings were issued in some 50 locations stretching from Asia's Pacific Rim to the other side of the ocean, with the United States alerting Hawaii, the northern and central California coast, the Oregon coast and parts of Alaska, and urging residents to stay away from beaches and marinas.

US President Barack Obama was notified of the massive Japanese quake at 4am local time and instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be prepared to help affected US states and territories, the White House said.

'We are asking all our citizens in the affected region to listen to their state and local officials,' Mr Obama said in a statement.

Some 6,500km from Japan, Hawaii was hit by tsunami waves in the early morning hours yesterday.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said Kauai was the first island hit early yesterday by the tsunami. Water rushed ashore in Honolulu, swamping the beach in Waikiki and surging over the break wall in the world-famous resort but stopping short of the area's high-rise hotels.

Waves at least a metre high were recorded on Oahu and Kauai.

The largest wave to crash ashore in Hawaii was a 1.8m surge, and hit Kahului, Maui, officials said.

Sirens had earlier woken residents in the middle of the night in Hawaii, where the governor ordered the evacuation of coastal areas. The US Navy ordered all warships in Pearl Harbour to remain in port to support rescue missions as needed.

Waves almost 1.5m high earlier hit Midway, a tiny island in the North Pacific about 2,100km north-west of Honolulu.

Latin American countries along the Pacific from Mexico to Peru also issued tsunami warnings, and Ecuador ordered preventive coastal evacuations.

In Chile - still jittery after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country in late February last year - President Sebastian Pinera issued a 'preventive alert', but told citizens to remain calm and continue normal life.

New Zealand's civil defence issued a tsunami warning, adding that no threat to land was expected when the tsunami was set to arrive at around 6.23am (1.23am Singapore time).

'Historical events and pre-calculated tsunami models indicate that the largest effects (less than 1m wave height at the coastline) are expected along the coasts of the central and northern North Island,' it said.

Still, the tsunami alerts in Indonesia and the Philippines revived memories of the giant tsunami which struck Asia in December 2004.

Indonesia was hardest hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed more than 230,000 lives.

Small tsunami waves also hit the Philippines yesterday, but there were no reports of damage or casualties, its chief state seismologist said.

Philippine Institute of Volcano-logy and Seismology director Renato Solidum reported waves ranging from 30cm to 1m.

Australia was not in danger because it was protected by island nations to the north, including Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, that would largely absorb any wave activity, said Mr Chris Ryan, a forecaster at the National Meteorological and Oceanographic Centre, the Australian government agency that monitors the threat.

In Africa, Kenya's meteorological department issued a tsunami alert yesterday to residents of the country's coastal region, but said waves reaching the Indian Ocean coast would be weak.

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS