Tsunami warning issued for Thai coastal provinces following 8.9-scale quake in Indonesia

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Information and Communications Technology Ministry has issued an urgent warning for people living on Andaman coastal areas in southern Thailand to evacuate following a 8.9-Richter-scale quake in Indonesia.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre was at the west coast of northern Sumatra in Indonesia at 3:45 pm.

-- The Nation 2012-04-11

UPDATE:

Thailand urges coastal evacuation after major quake -

Bangkok, April 11, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand issued an evacuation order Wednesday for its Andaman coast, a magnet for foreign tourists, after a massive earthquake off Indonesia triggered a tsunami alert.

Thailand's National Disaster Warning Centre advised people in the area to move to higher places and stay as far away as possible from the sea.

"All people along the Andaman coast must evacuate to safe areas. We expect a tsunami 1.6 to 2.0 metres high to hit Phuket and Phang Nga at 5:40 pm (1040 GMT)," the centre's director Somsak Khaosuwan said on Thai television.

The Andaman Coast was battered by an Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 that killed an estimated 5,400 people in Thailand alone.

Since then, Thailand has installed a high-tech warning system designed to reassure tourists and businesses that the country's beaches are safe.

The latest Thai alert, triggered by an 8.7-magnitude quake off Sumatra island, covers six southern Andaman coastal provinces.

Flights to Phuket were diverted to other airports as passengers and staff were evacuated to higher ground, officials said.

The tremor was felt as far afield as Thailand and southern India.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-04-11

Tourist and residence who are celebrating Songkran were running for higher ground today as a large earth quake, and Tsunami warning was isued for Tahiland. Initially registering 8.9 struck 33km under the sea and 500km off shore of Indonesia's northern Aceh province, bring back memories of the 2004 boxing day for many.......more http://www.gogoflori...thai-coastline/

Warning to hit Phuket at 6:18PM Local Time

WARNING CENTER;arrive Phuket at 18.18, PhraThong Isl at 19.23, Tarutao Isl at 19.56: http://t.co/f1vgRS3i #fb

The Tsunami alert centre web-page http://ptwc.weather.gov/ptwc/text.php?id=indian.TSUIOX.2012.04.11.0845 indicates that if a tsunami hits Phuket, it will reach shore around 1118z ==> 6.18pm local time.

The sirens in Phuket/elsewhere are actually sounding?

Also felt in koh samui. Small shakes.

Indian Ocean-wide tsunami warning given after Indonesia quake

The Nation

JAKARTA: -- A magnitude-8.7 earthquake struck Wednesday offnorthern Sumatra in Indonesia, the US Geological Survey said. Atsunami warning was issued across the Indian Ocean.

The quake struck at 2:38 pm (0838 GMT) at a depth of 33kilometres, 435 kilometres south-west of Banda Aceh, capital ofSumatra’s Aceh province, which was laid to waste by the 2004 IndianOcean tsunami.

A tsunami watch was issued for countries ranging from Indonesia toThailand, India, Australia, the Seychelles, Somalia, Oman and SouthAfrica, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The US Geological Survey earlier put the quake at magnitude 8.9.

-- The Nation 2012-04-11

Tsunami watch issued for Indian Ocean

Indonesia issues tsunami warning after a 8.7 magnitude earthquake hit waters off westernmost Aceh province.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/indonesia/9197229/BREAKING-Tsunami-watch-issued-for-Indian-Ocean.html

Nowt on ANY TV station. WAKE UP PEOPLE. LIVES COULD BE AT STAKE!

A Tsunami 40cm high has been detected by buoys 1000kms away from Phuket -

Yup felt it surely in Rawai.

Sat in my office chair and it started moving a little.

First thought it was my legs gone mental and moved the chair..

Then the office girls started talking about this wobbling sensation..

Then I hit Thai Visa and surely within few minutes this post was up..

Big quake strikes off coast of Indonesia

By the CNN Wire Staff

(CNN) -- A massive earthquake struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami watch for the Indian Ocean.

The quake, which struck about 500 kilometers from Indonesia's Aceh province, had a magnitude of 8.7, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It took place at a depth of 33 kilometers.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it had issued a tsunami watch for the entire Indian Ocean.

Banda Aceh was devastated by a tsunami resulting from an earthquake in December 2004.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/11/world/asia/indonesia-earthquake/index.html

-- CNN 2012-04-11

Felt it just slightly here in Chiang Mai. I'm on the 12th floor so we tend to get a slightly amplified version of the movement.

David

Felt nothing whatsoever in Bangkok, Offices at Central World

Tsunami siren alarmed at Patong Beach

The Nation

PHUKET: -- Tourists and workers at the Patong Beach urgently evacuated to higher grounds after the tsunami sirens at the beach sounded.

The tsunami alarms sounded following a 8.7 Richter quake in Indonesia.

-- The Nation 2012-04-11

RT @RichardBarrow: WARNING: A tsunami 3-4 meters high may hit Phuket at 4:48pm & Phang Nga at 5pm - TR @Rawangpai

A Tsunami 40cm high has been detected by buoys 1000kms away from Phuket -

Problem is as the Tsunami wave rolls it increases in size and power, by landfall that 40cm. midget could be a 3 or 4 metre wave or more with a lot of destructive power behind it

Had a power cut circa Boat Lagoon not sure if it is anything to do with the quake, after-all, the Thai electrical infrastructure is top of the ladder :-P

Felt nothing in Udon

Nowt on ANY TV station. WAKE UP PEOPLE. LIVES COULD BE AT STAKE!

I agree. They've got to get the message out asap if it's expected to hit Thailand just after 6.

If there is a tsunami, hopefully we'll see the benefits of this new early warning system, evacuate properly and there'll be no casualties.

RT @mpoppel: REU: TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED IN THAILAND'S SOUTHERN PROVINCES OF

PHUKET AND PHANG NA - PHUKET DISASTER PREVENTION DEPT

We felt this in Trang. Never known in my MIL's 70 years. I feel this is much bigger than 8.7-8.9. People need to get off the island or to high ground as quickly as possible!

RT @vaitor: Breaking: 6.5 magnitude aftershock strikes Indonesia

Water expert Dr. Seri warns of 3-4m waves hitting Phuket at 4.48pm,3-4m waves hitting Phangnga at 5pm,1-2m waves hitting Krabi at 5.58pm-TAN

RT @RichardBarrow: WARNING: A tsunami 3-4 meters high may hit Phuket at 4:48pm & Phang Nga at 5pm - TR @Rawangpai

Scientific estimated arrival times for Thailand's Andaman coast are two to three hours after the quake, meaning estimated arrival at Phuket at of 18.18, PhraThong Isl at 19.23, Tarutao Isl at 19.56:

http://ptwc.weather.gov/ptwc/text.php?id=indian.TSUIOX.2012.04.11.0845

Thailand urges coastal evacuation after major quake

Bangkok, April 11, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand issued an evacuation order Wednesday for its Andaman coast, a magnet for foreign tourists, after a massive earthquake off Indonesia triggered a tsunami alert.

Thailand's National Disaster Warning Centre advised people in the area to move to higher places and stay as far away as possible from the sea.

"All people along the Andaman coast must evacuate to safe areas. We expect a tsunami 1.6 to 2.0 metres high to hit Phuket and Phang Nga at 5:40 pm (1040 GMT)," the centre's director Somsak Khaosuwan said on Thai television.

The Andaman Coast was battered by an Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 that killed an estimated 5,400 people in Thailand alone.

Since then, Thailand has installed a high-tech warning system designed to reassure tourists and businesses that the country's beaches are safe.

The latest Thai alert, triggered by an 8.7-magnitude quake off Sumatra island, covers six southern Andaman coastal provinces.

Flights to Phuket were diverted to other airports as passengers and staff were evacuated to higher ground, officials said.

The tremor was felt as far afield as Thailand and southern India.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-04-11

Richard you are givin 4.48 and 5pm other estimates said 6pm is that update reliable?

Felt nothing whatsoever in Bangkok, Offices at Central World

Nothing in Thaveewattana (Bangkok) but BKK is a big swamp.....

Richard you are givin 4.48 and 5pm other estimates said 6pm is that update reliable?

Either way - time to move your ass!

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