Huge earthquakes hitting Japan and Chile

[J-Triumf]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-02/27/c_13190091.htm

TOKYO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 6.9 magnitude on the Richter scale on Saturday rocked Okinawa Prefecture and its vicinity in southern Japan, said the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The focus of the quake, which occurred at 5:31 a.m. local time (2031 GMT Friday), was located some 10 km under the sea 50 km east off Naha, capital of Okinawa, said the agency.

Two people, both female and aged 74 and 66, were reportedly slightly injured in the earthquake, local government reported.

The agency issued an warning of up to 2-meter high tsunami seismic waves for coastal regions of the main Okinawa island soon after the quake, but soon downgraded it to an advisory at about 6: 30 a.m., and later lifted it at around 7 a.m..

Small waves of up to around 10 centimeters reached Nanjo city on the island and Minamidaito village just before 6 a.m., the agency said.

BBC News - Massive earthquake strikes Chile

A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 has hit central Chile, killing at least 47 people, local media say.

The quake struck at 0634 GMT about 91km (56 miles) north-east of the city of Concepcion and 317km south-west of the capital, Santiago.

President Michelle Bachelet also said a large wave had affected one southern island group and she appealed for the Chilean people to remain calm.

The US issued an initial tsunami warning for Chile, Peru and Ecuador.

That was later extended to Colombia, Antarctica and Central America. Japan's meteorological agency warned of a potential tsunami across large areas of the Pacific.

Santiago airport has been closed and all flights cancelled until further notice, airline officials say.

Two major quakes on opposite sides of the Pacific within such a short time...so far the Chile one looks much worse, as I haven't heard much about the one near Japan. The Chile one is also the strongest in the world since Indonesia in 2004, and Chile was also hit by the strongest quake ever recorded.

[kuro808]

In any case I am worried for any waves coming my way 

[shadowstar]

The Philippines is still under a 24 hour long warning about a Level 1 tsunami that could hit. We're going to hold on tight in case anything happens.

[shurastriker]

In Chile the damage is huge, Concepción is a chaos, many buildings and even bridges collapsed... so far 122 deaths are reported oficially. In Perú we don't have a tsunami alarm but in some zones the sea moved

In any case I am worried for any waves coming my way 

news say that there is tsunami alarm in Hawaii

[kuro808]

In Chile the damage is huge, Concepción is a chaos, many buildings and even bridges collapsed... so far 122 deaths are reported oficially. In Perú we don't have a tsunami alarm but in some zones the sea moved

In any case I am worried for any waves coming my way 

news say that there is tsunami alarm in Hawaii

now it is a warning so we are on high alert

[Saburo]

Been up since 6AM watching wall-to-wall coverage.  Now the curling match has begun and damn I still haven't eaten anything yet.  Time to forage...

[aznnerd]

The tsunami alert is on the whole West coast :/
I have a friend in Seattle who says they're on alert

Stay safe everyone and rip to those who were lost

[daigong]

The damage is crazy. 8.8 and rocking the world. Pray everyone is safe, coast to coast. Thank GOD Ange and fam are alright but the aftershocks :/





Here's a way to help out:

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is making funds available for relief operations in Chile while also helping people in Hawaii prepare for a possible tsunami. Donate to the American Red Cross.
http://www.redcross.org/

AmeriCares is sending a rapid response team to help provide disaster relief in Chile.  Medicines, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid are being readied for immediate shipment. Donate to AmeriCares.
http://www.americares.org/

OXFAM America
Oxfam is flying in an emergency team to assess the disaster and prepare a response. Donate to OXFAM America.
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

[shurastriker]

Santiago, Chile (CNN) -- The death toll from Saturday's
8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile has risen to 708, Chilean
President Michelle Bachelet said.

Calling it an "unthinkable disaster," Bachelet said a "state of
catastrophe" in the hardest-hit regions would continue, allowing for
the quick restoration of order and speedy distribution of aid.

not to mention the vandalism in the supermarkets... but overall the emergency is getting controlled in several places, even power and water is returning to some areas. Yet the damage is huge, 2 million people affected and billions in losts