February 27, 2010

Chile Earthquake prompts tsunami bulletin for QLD

An 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile, South America has prompted the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre to issue a Tsunami Bulletin for Queensland and New South Wales as well as Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands

The information below has been extracted from the Queensland Tsunami Bulletin (courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology and the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre)

Tsunami waves are more powerful than the same size beach waves, with the first wave not always the largest. First tsunami effects are expected as follows: 

Coolangatta after 08:15 am [EST] Sunday 
Maroochydore after 09:00 am [EST] Sunday 
Brisbane after 09:15 am [EST] Sunday 

Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami. Check that your neighbours have received this advice. Boats in harbours, estuaries or shallow coastal water should return to shore. Secure your boat and move away from the waterfront. Vessels already at sea should stay offshore in deep water until further advised. 

Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami, as there is the possibility of dangerous, localised flooding of the immediate foreshore. 

For emergency assistance, call EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT QUEENSLAND on 132 500 

Maps showing the affected areas are on the Bureau web site www.bom.gov.au/tsunami. For a repeat of this warning call 1300 TSUNAMI [1300 878 6264].