Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 2 guests online > Tsunami Leakage Warning > The Pacifics Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii has warned of > several leaks of energy from the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami > into the vast Pacific Ocean. > > Although there is no tsunami warning or watch in effect, the > Centre says the energy generated is producing some sea level > fluctuations at many places in the Pacific, including American > Samoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand. > Although Niue has not been mentioned in the Hawaii release its > understood most Pacific Islands could experience sea > fluctuations. > > The center says that small sea level changes could continue to > be observed across the Pacific over the next day or two until > all the energy from this event is eventually dissipated. > > It says waves or crests measuring from 18 to 65 centimetres > would surge along the coasts of Pago Pago, Suva, Hilo, Port > Vila, Waitangi, the Chathams and Jackson Bay. > > The Indian Ocean tsunami was triggered by the most powerful > earthquake recorded in the past 40 years. > > A tsunami is not a single wave, but a series of travelling > ocean waves generated by geological disturbances near or below > the ocean floor. > [date.gif] Wednesday, 29 December 2004 > MEGA QUAKE AND DEATHS EXPOSE VUNERABILITY > > Two major organizations in the Pacific are warning island > states of the need to build resilience to cope with climate > and weather related disasters. In a message of sympathy to > those communities that suffered in the Asia mega-earthquake > and related tsunami, Forum secretary general, Greg Urwin said > the disastrous natural event was a sobering reminder to all of > our vulnerability. > > "Its an unescapable fact that nature does not discriminate, > whether we are large or small, wealthy or poor," he said. > > Mr Urwin recalled that Pacific Leaders at their last meeting > in August 2004, and following the impact last January of > Cyclone Heta on several countries, particularly on Niue, > highlighted their concerns in regard to vulnerability to > disaster. > > Russell Howorth deputy director South Pacific Applied > Geoscience Commission, (SOPAC) the regional agency vested with > responsibility by Pacific leaders to coordinate disaster risk > reduction activities for the region said the Pacific region is > vulnerable to tsunmai. > > " Tsunamis, a Japanese word for seismic sea wave, are commonly > generated by earthquakes but may also be generated by volcanic > eruptions or submarine landslides. The latter may or may not > be associated with earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. It is > important to realize also that not all earthquakes generate > tsunamis," said Mr Howorth. > > He added that regrettably with local tsunamis (generated say > less than 500-1000 kms away) a coastal community has virtually > no time to issue a warning and for people to respond and > evacuate the coastal zone. However, for distant tsunamis, the > Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre based in Hawaii does issue > warnings for large tsunamis which have the capability to > travel across the Pacific. Such a warning for a tsunami > originating in the north and east Pacific should give > sufficient time, 12 hours or more, for communities in the > west, central and south Pacific to respond, if in-country > warning response arrangements are in place and acted upon > promptly. > > Niue contributes to the Hawaii based tusnami warning centre > and has equipment at Sir Roberts Wharf Alofi which monitor > local sea levels. > > The Second World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction will be > held next month in Hyogo, Japan from January 18-22 following a > meeting of small island developing states of the Pacific in > Mauritius from January 9-15. > MEDICINES ARRIVE AS FREIGHT PROBLEMS EASE > Urgent medical supplies including prescription drugs for the > Niue Hospital have arrived as air freight problems ease.Delays > to freight resulted last week in an urgent request for drugs > from Samoa. Full passenger loadings and excess baggage on > scheduled flights to Niue prior to Christmas resulted in the > backlog of commercial freight and mail to the island. But > since Christmas Day Polynesian Airlines has managed to clear > some of the backlog and move mail from New Zealand. > > Airline officials say it's a seasonal problem and they hope to > have the backlog cleared this week. Passenger loadings in an > out of Niue have been light since Christmas Day but from > January 10 onwards flights to New Zealand are full of those > returning home after visiting friends and relatives on the > island. > Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 December 2004 ) > 19417 Visitors
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