Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 6 guests online > MINOR DAMAGE BY KERRY > Tropical Cyclone Kerry has struck the northern part of the > Vanuatu island chain with winds of up to 100km an hour. > The national disaster management office in the capital Port > Vila, says, so far, its only received reports of heavy rain > and minor damage on the northern island of Ambrym, with some > trees blown down. > > The Vanuatu Met Service says the cyclone is weakening although > strong wind is affecting the whole country, and coastal > flooding is expected in low-lying areas. > > [date.gif] Saturday, 08 January 2005 > FP ASSESSES TSUNAMI RISK > > The Indian Ocean tsunami tragedy has prompted French > scientists to re-assess such natural disaster risks, > especially in its island countries and territories. > According to a joint release from French scientific research > institute CNRS and the French ministry of ecology, one of > these island regions most at risk is French Polynesia, in the > Pacific Ocean. > Officials and scientists say this is because French Polynesia > is located in an area where an estimated 90% of tsunamis > occur". > The assessment however notes that French Polynesia does not > sit on a direct junction zone between tectonic plates, where > earthquakes usually originate due to the enormous tensions > frequently released on these fronts. > Therefore, CNRS says, the risks of significant damage are > probably lower than in other parts of the Pacific ocean and > French Polynesia could be affected by tsunamis triggered by > earthquakes occurring to the East (South America) or the West > (the Russian continent or Japan). > The French institute estimates, based on previous occurrences > (including one tidal wave from Southern America in 1995 ), > that the impact of such tembles could be translated into waves > of maximum height of four metres in French Polynesia. > In New Caledonia, a series of small quakes of a magnitude not > exceeding 3.5 on the open-ended Richter scale was felt on > Sunday in the capital Nouméa and its surroundings. > It was reported to have triggered near panic among residents, > some of whom believed this was linked to the Boxing Day Indian > Ocean disaster. > > Last Updated ( Friday, 07 January 2005 ) > 21391 Visitors
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