Powerful Earthquake Rocks Western Indonesia

[churchill]

Indonesia's meteorological agency says a powerful earthquake has shaken western Indonesia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand.

The Indonesian agency said the tremor had a magnitude of 7.6. Its epicenter was just off the coast of Sumatra

The U.S. Geological Survey put the strength at 7.9.

The shaking could be felt in high buildings in the capital, Jakarta, several hundred miles, kilometers away and in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.

There were no immediate reports of a high waves or injuries.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/articl...p8nthAD9B1JA380

[churchill]

M7.9 quake occurs off Indonesia's Sumatra, tsunami warning in effect

JAKARTA, Sept. 30 KYODO

A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 occurred off Indonesia's Sumatra Island early Wednesday evening, the U.S. Geological Survey reported

http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/i...?storyid=462732

[churchill]

BULLETIN -- JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY: THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DESTRUCTIVE REGIONAL TSUNAMI IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

[churchill]

A powerful magnitude 7.9 earthquake has struck near the island of Sumatra in western Indonesia, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

The quake damaged houses and bridges, and caused fires in the city of Padang in Sumatra, a Reuters witness said on Wednesday.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand.

Shaking could be felt in high buildings in the capital, Jakarta, several hundred miles, kilometers away and in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.

The new quake comes on the heels of a magnitude 8 tembler that struck yesterday in the south Pacific Ocean, generating a tsunami that killed at least 99 people in the Samoa islands.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,557662,00.html

[Farma]

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/messages/indi...9.30.102622.txt

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001

PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS

ISSUED AT 1026Z 30 SEP 2009

THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.

... A REGIONAL TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR

INDONESIA / INDIA / THAILAND / MALAYSIA

FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION...THIS MESSAGE IS FOR

INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY

NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE

DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND

ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 1016Z 30 SEP 2009

COORDINATES - 0.9 SOUTH 99.9 EAST

LOCATION - SOUTHERN SUMATRA INDONESIA

MAGNITUDE - 7.7

EVALUATION

EARTHQUAKES OF THIS SIZE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A

DESTRUCTIVE LOCAL TSUNAMI AND SOMETIMES A DESTRUCTIVE REGIONAL

TSUNAMI ALONG COASTS LOCATED USUALLY NO MORE THAN A THOUSAND

KILOMETERS FROM THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. AREAS FURTHER FROM THE

EPICENTER COULD EXPERIENCE SMALL SEA LEVEL CHANGES AND STRONG OR

UNUSUAL COASTAL CURRENTS.

HOWEVER - IT IS NOT KNOWN THAT A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. THIS

WATCH IS BASED ONLY ON THE EARTHQUAKE EVALUATION. AUTHORITIES IN

THE REGION SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS

POSSIBILITY. THE WATCH WILL NOT EXPAND TO OTHER AREAS OF THE

INDIAN OCEAN UNLESS ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED TO WARRANT SUCH

AN EXPANSION.

ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS

WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL

ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE

LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN

SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME

-------------------------------- ------------ ------------

INDONESIA

PADANG 0.9S 100.1E 1022Z 30 SEP

SIBERUT 1.5S 98.7E 1103Z 30 SEP

BENGKULU 3.9S 102.0E 1125Z 30 SEP

SIMEULUE 2.5N 96.0E 1136Z 30 SEP

BANDA ACEH 5.5N 95.1E 1227Z 30 SEP

BANDAR LAMPUNG 5.7S 105.3E 1251Z 30 SEP

BELAWAN 3.8N 98.8E 1531Z 30 SEP

INDIA

GREAT NICOBAR 7.1N 93.6E 1236Z 30 SEP

THAILAND

PHUKET 8.0N 98.2E 1400Z 30 SEP

KO PHRA THONG 9.1N 98.2E 1444Z 30 SEP

KO TARUTAO 6.6N 99.6E 1512Z 30 SEP

MALAYSIA

GEORGETOWN 5.4N 100.1E 1546Z 30 SEP

PORT DICKSON 2.5N 101.7E 1918Z 30 SEP

ADDITIONAL BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI

WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT AS MORE INFORMATION

BECOMES AVAILABLE.

THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FOR THIS EVENT. IN THE CASE OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION...THE

MORE CONSERVATIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE USED FOR SAFETY.

Edited September 30, 2009 by Farma

[BillR]

9pm arrival time for thailand (if at all)

[katyb]

Thailand has disappeared from the list.....

1.EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION

ORIGIN TIME : 1016 30 SEP 2009 (UTC)

COORDINATES : 0.9 SOUTH 99.9 EAST

LOCATION : SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA

MAGNITUDE : 7.7

2.EVALUATION

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DESTRUCTIVE REGIONAL TSUNAMI

IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.

3.ESTIMATED TSUNAMI TRAVEL TIME

ONE HOUR OR LESS

INDONESIA:

INDIAN OCEAN COAST OF SUMATRA

ONE HOUR TO THREE HOURS

INDIA:

ALL COASTS OF ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

SRI LANKA:

ALL COASTS

INDONESIA:

MALACCA COAST OF SUMATRA

INDIAN OCEAN COAST OF JAWA

SOUTH COASTS OF LESSER SUNDA ISLANDS

AUSTRALIA:

COCOS ISLANDS

Been getting a lot of these messages in the last 2 days. Nothing for weeks, but now...it's all going on!

[churchill]

We seem to have potentialy 2 tsunamis going in different directions - What happens when they meet ?

[george]

Phuket on high alert following tsunami warning:

PHUKET: Phuket authorities are on high alert following a tsunami warning after a magnitude 7 earthquake off Sumatra.

More details shortly.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-09-30

[george]

Update:

Phuket tsunami alert update

PHUKET: -- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami alert for Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Thailand, according to an Associated Press report.

The center issued the warning following a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.6 about 50km west of Padang in Western Sumatra at 5.16pm.

There were no immediate reports of a high waves or injuries, it added.

An officer at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Phuket (DDPM-Phuket) said the National Disaster Warning Center had sent messages to authorities in coastal areas to prepare for a possible tsunami.

If the center confirms the approach of a tsunami, an evacuation will be ordered.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-09-30

[katyb]

... However, having said that, the Samoan alert was cancelled yesterday as well and yet as Churchill posted there was in fact a tsunami that killed 99 people. So maybe these bulletins are not so hot?

[george]

Update:

Thailand to wait for Indonesia whether to issue tsunami warning

Thailand will wait to see whether Indonesia would issue tsunami warning before deciding whether to issue the warning.

Indonesia's Sumatra island was hit by powerful 7.9-Ritcher-scale quake on Wednesday, destroying large buildings and starting fires in Padang city.

Thai director of geological and environmental division, Apichart Surinkham said that in case tsunami happens following the quake, it will arrive six Thai coastal provinces within three hours with just 20-cm-height waves.

"I could say that there is nothing to worry about. However, we are now waiting for the information from Indonesia, whether it would issue The tsunami warning or. If it does, we will follow suit,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2009-09-30

[KrabiMan]

... However, having said that, the Samoan alert was cancelled yesterday as well and yet as Churchill posted there was in fact a tsunami that killed 99 people. So maybe these bulletins are not so hot?

The tsunami from this earthquake in Western Sumatra was reported to be 27 cm. only. The tsunami alert has been canceled in Indonesia according to CNN at 6:50pm Thai time

[arkom]

Update:

Thailand to wait for Indonesia whether to issue tsunami warning

Thailand will wait to see whether Indonesia would issue tsunami warning before deciding whether to issue the warning.

Indonesia's Sumatra island was hit by powerful 7.9-Ritcher-scale quake on Wednesday, destroying large buildings and starting fires in Padang city.

Thai director of geological and environmental division, Apichart Surinkham said that in case tsunami happens following the quake, it will arrive six Thai coastal provinces within three hours with just 20-cm-height waves.

"I could say that there is nothing to worry about. However, we are now waiting for the information from Indonesia, whether it would issue The tsunami warning or. If it does, we will follow suit,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2009-09-30

What's the harm in issuing a warning before Indonesia, before they know it it could be too late and same thing will happen in 2004. Amazing Thailand.

[dudemeister]

9pm arrival time for thailand (if at all)

BBC World News resident expert - said yesterdays tsunami 'could' have been travelling at up to 800kmh.

...but i no good at the maths to find out arrival times Thailand.

[scotlandontour]

Does anyone have any advice?

I am currently a tourist on holiday in Karon Beach.

Our hotel staff laughed at us when we asked them for advice and said that the Tsunami was in Samoa and not here.

[george]

CNN reports that the Tsunami warning is cancelled.

[WorldwideALOHA]

The latest from NOAA

000

WEIO21 PHEB 301131

TSUIOX

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 002

PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS

ISSUED AT 1131Z 30 SEP 2009

THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.

... THE TSUNAMI WATCH IS CANCELLED ...

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY

NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE

DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND

ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 1016Z 30 SEP 2009

COORDINATES - 0.9 SOUTH 99.9 EAST

LOCATION - SOUTHERN SUMATRA INDONESIA

MAGNITUDE - 7.6

MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY

GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER

------------------- ----- ------ ----- --------------- -----

PADANG ID 0.9S 100.4E 1046Z 0.27M / 0.9FT 20MIN

LAT - LATITUDE (N-NORTH, S-SOUTH)

LON - LONGITUDE (E-EAST, W-WEST)

TIME - TIME OF THE MEASUREMENT (Z IS UTC IS GREENWICH TIME)

AMPL - TSUNAMI AMPLITUDE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL.

IT IS ...NOT... CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT.

VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS(M) AND FEET(FT).

PER - PERIOD OF TIME IN MINUTES(MIN) FROM ONE WAVE TO THE NEXT.

EVALUATION

SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE THAT A SIGNIFICANT TSUNAMI WAS NOT

GENERATED. THEREFORE THE TSUNAMI WATCH ISSUED BY THIS CENTER

IS NOW CANCELLED.

THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI

WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

BECOMES AVAILABLE.

THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FOR THIS EVENT. IN THE CASE OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION...THE

MORE CONSERVATIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE USED FOR SAFETY.

000

WEIO21 PHEB 301131

TSUIOX

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 002

PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS

ISSUED AT 1131Z 30 SEP 2009

THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.

... THE TSUNAMI WATCH IS CANCELLED ...

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY

NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE

DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND

ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 1016Z 30 SEP 2009

COORDINATES - 0.9 SOUTH 99.9 EAST

LOCATION - SOUTHERN SUMATRA INDONESIA

MAGNITUDE - 7.6

MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY

GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER

------------------- ----- ------ ----- --------------- -----

PADANG ID 0.9S 100.4E 1046Z 0.27M / 0.9FT 20MIN

LAT - LATITUDE (N-NORTH, S-SOUTH)

LON - LONGITUDE (E-EAST, W-WEST)

TIME - TIME OF THE MEASUREMENT (Z IS UTC IS GREENWICH TIME)

AMPL - TSUNAMI AMPLITUDE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL.

IT IS ...NOT... CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT.

VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS(M) AND FEET(FT).

PER - PERIOD OF TIME IN MINUTES(MIN) FROM ONE WAVE TO THE NEXT.

EVALUATION

SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE THAT A SIGNIFICANT TSUNAMI WAS NOT

GENERATED. THEREFORE THE TSUNAMI WATCH ISSUED BY THIS CENTER

IS NOW CANCELLED.

THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI

WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

BECOMES AVAILABLE.

THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FOR THIS EVENT. IN THE CASE OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION...THE

MORE CONSERVATIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE USED FOR SAFETY.

...SP...

000

WEIO21 PHEB 301026

TSUIOX

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001

PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS

ISSUED AT 1026Z 30 SEP 2009

THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.

... A REGIONAL TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR

INDONESIA / INDIA / THAILAND / MALAYSIA

FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION...THIS MESSAGE IS FOR

INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.

THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY

NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE

DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND

ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 1016Z 30 SEP 2009

COORDINATES - 0.9 SOUTH 99.9 EAST

LOCATION - SOUTHERN SUMATRA INDONESIA

MAGNITUDE - 7.7

EVALUATION

EARTHQUAKES OF THIS SIZE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A

DESTRUCTIVE LOCAL TSUNAMI AND SOMETIMES A DESTRUCTIVE REGIONAL

TSUNAMI ALONG COASTS LOCATED USUALLY NO MORE THAN A THOUSAND

KILOMETERS FROM THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. AREAS FURTHER FROM THE

EPICENTER COULD EXPERIENCE SMALL SEA LEVEL CHANGES AND STRONG OR

UNUSUAL COASTAL CURRENTS.

HOWEVER - IT IS NOT KNOWN THAT A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. THIS

WATCH IS BASED ONLY ON THE EARTHQUAKE EVALUATION. AUTHORITIES IN

THE REGION SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS

POSSIBILITY. THE WATCH WILL NOT EXPAND TO OTHER AREAS OF THE

INDIAN OCEAN UNLESS ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED TO WARRANT SUCH

AN EXPANSION.

ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS

WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL

ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE

LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN

SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME

-------------------------------- ------------ ------------

INDONESIA PADANG 0.9S 100.1E 1022Z 30 SEP

SIBERUT 1.5S 98.7E 1103Z 30 SEP

BENGKULU 3.9S 102.0E 1125Z 30 SEP

SIMEULUE 2.5N 96.0E 1136Z 30 SEP

BANDA ACEH 5.5N 95.1E 1227Z 30 SEP

BANDAR LAMPUNG 5.7S 105.3E 1251Z 30 SEP

BELAWAN 3.8N 98.8E 1531Z 30 SEP

INDIA GREAT NICOBAR 7.1N 93.6E 1236Z 30 SEP

THAILAND PHUKET 8.0N 98.2E 1400Z 30 SEP

KO PHRA THONG 9.1N 98.2E 1444Z 30 SEP

KO TARUTAO 6.6N 99.6E 1512Z 30 SEP

MALAYSIA GEORGETOWN 5.4N 100.1E 1546Z 30 SEP

PORT DICKSON 2.5N 101.7E 1918Z 30 SEP

ADDITIONAL BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI

WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT AS MORE INFORMATION

BECOMES AVAILABLE.

THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FOR THIS EVENT. IN THE CASE OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION...THE

MORE CONSERVATIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE USED FOR SAFETY.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Does anyone have any advice?

I am currently a tourist on holiday in Karon Beach.

Our hotel staff laughed at us when we asked them for advice and said that the Tsunami was in Samoa and not here.

Take some single malts and head for the hills just in case. The experts just don't have the practical experience. Just remember the last Tsunami. Good luck brother.

[TheGhostWithin]

... However, having said that, the Samoan alert was cancelled yesterday as well and yet as Churchill posted there was in fact a tsunami that killed 99 people. So maybe these bulletins are not so hot?

The Samoan Tsunami alert was for good reason, a Tsunami hit Samoa, as well as other countries (including New Zealand, on a very very small scale here though) and lives were lost.

A number of people I know personally who have lost family members, bless their souls. I live in Auckland City (the largest City in New Zealand) and we were asked to be prepared to evacuate, though to be perfectly honest the response from civil defence (government) was extremely poor, not even willing to classify it as a tsunami or confirm loss of life 2.5 hours after the initial tsunami hit south west Samoa at 0648hrs nzst.

So, Bulletins are useful, for those with poor government preparedness to make their own decisions and take steps to protect their families IMO.

[MJo]

Can confirm i felt the tremors here in Singapore. Barely noticeable, i was sitting in quiet 2nd floor office thus felt it.

Coordinates put it off Padang, 50km north-west between the islands and mainland Sumatra.

[swifty5x5]

How did they get the warning teletype? Did they replace the batteries in the early warning system?

[bangkokrick]

Does anyone have any advice?

I am currently a tourist on holiday in Karon Beach.

Our hotel staff laughed at us when we asked them for advice and said that the Tsunami was in Samoa and not here.

I would keep glued to the news mate. BBC have just this minute said that the warning was cancelled, so should be OK i guess. When do Thais ever watch the world news, so how would they know anyway?

Cheers, Rick

[d0om4gloom]

Does anyone have any advice?

I am currently a tourist on holiday in Karon Beach.

Our hotel staff laughed at us when we asked them for advice and said that the Tsunami was in Samoa and not here.

run like the wind or put your head in the sand, take your pick. What a stupid question !

[Stocky]

There's a need some basic geography lessons.

How does an earthquake 50km off Padang Sumatra propagate a wave that could come anywhere near the coast of Thailand?

[webfact]

1 double post deleted

[Matan]

Does anyone have any advice?

I am currently a tourist on holiday in Karon Beach.

Our hotel staff laughed at us when we asked them for advice and said that the Tsunami was in Samoa and not here.

I would keep glued to the news mate. BBC have just this minute said that the warning was cancelled, so should be OK i guess. When do Thais ever watch the world news, so how would they know anyway?

Cheers, Rick

There have been two earthquakes, the Samoa one is much bigger though. Much further away also!

[Stocky]

Phuket's safe, trust me I'm a geologist.

[mahtin]

Update:

" However, we are now waiting for the information from Indonesia, whether it would issue The tsunami warning or. If it does, we will follow suit,'' he said.

Is this official?

Thailand cannot make a decision without Indonesia showing the way first?

How much face has this person just lost Thailand?

[goatfarmer]

There's a need some basic geography lessons.

How does an earthquake 50km off Padang Sumatra propagate a wave that could come anywhere near the coast of Thailand?

Presumably the shock would pass through 500km of land on west sumatra and create a wave in the straits of melaka on the east. But the point is well taken that a wave generated 50km off Padang, the most likely point at which a tsunami would occur, is not going to pass over Sumatra to threaten Thailand.