Tsunami Warnings Across the Pacific in Wake of Chile Quake Disaster
by C. L. Cook
 Canada's state media organ, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) is reporting a rising death toll in Chile follow the early Saturday morning temblor. The CBC says at least 150 are reported dead, with that number expected to rise.
NOAA Tsunami effect projection map
The estimated 8.8 magnitude quake shook the capital of Santiago at 3:30 am local time, collapsing bridges, buildings, and highway overpasses. That 8.8 equates to an energy release 500 times the size of the recent 7.0 earthquake in Haiti.
Jessica Sigala of the U.S. Geological Survey called the event a "shallow thrust" earthquake, signifying a potential tsunami threat to countries around the Pacific.
"With this new quake, the oceanic crust went under Chile and as it did
this, it created this tremendous amount of energy that pushed out
toward the ocean and then that water caused the wave to occur," Sigala
said.
Chile's president, Michele Bachelet has declared a "state of catastrophe" in the country. Meanwhile, tsunami warnings are issued for all of Hawaii, American Samoa and Samoa, with lower grade warnings issued for Pacific coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska's Attu Islands. Hawaiians are advised to expect the first waves Saturday at 11:19 am local time (4:19 eastern standard time).
Tsunami advisory for coastal British Columbia
British Columbians living on or near the water are advised to move to higher ground, stay away from beaches, harbours and marinas. The first waves are expected to come ashore in B.C. around 3:11pm local time (6:11pm eastern standard time).
The same advice holds for the Australian coastal region. Authorities there say the extent of the possible tsunami will be clearer to them once Hawaiian reports are in.
Chile's international airport has been shut down, and will remain closed for at least 24 hours.
The epicenter of the quake is estimated as 325 kilometers southwest of the capital. The minute and half quake has since been followed by eleven aftershocks, the largest measuring 6.9 magnitude.
[UPDATE I: CNN is reporting the U.S. Navy "scrambling" it's Pacific fleet to "get out of the way" of expected tsunami landfall, as military personnel attempt to evacuate their families living at lower elevations.
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