Pacific Tsunami Warning Center news stories on Newser

Deadly 6.8 Quake Rocks Philippines

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:00:00 CST

A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook the central Philippines today, killing at least 42 people and triggering a local tsunami alert. Houses were buried, windows were shattered, and walls were cracked by the shaker, causing panicked residents to flee their homes, schools, offices, and stores. The quake struck in a...

Tsunami Waves Hit US Mainland

Mary Papenfuss — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:15:59 CST

The first tsunami waves triggered by Japan's massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake have hit the US mainland, the AP reports. Waves surged slightly along the northern coast of California and could reach seven feet; Oregon also saw high water. The tsunami was earlier moving through all the Hawaiian islands, according to...

Baby Found in Trees Days After Tsunami

Rob Quinn — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:14:00 CDT

An 18-month-old baby was found alive in a clump of trees two days after a tsunami killed more than 400 people in Indonesia. The little boy, who was found by a 10-year-old child, is recovering in a health center, AP reports. Both his parents are dead. Tens of thousands of...

Major Quake Rattles Vanuatu

Rob Quinn — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:57:33 CDT

Thousands of people in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu headed for the hills today as a magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit and triggered a small tsunami. No injuries or serious damage were reported despite the strength of the quake, which witness said shook buildings for at least 10 seconds,...

Tsunami Glances Off Japan, Russia

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:00:00 CST

The tsunami from Chile's deadly earthquake hit Japan's main islands and the shores of Russia today, but the smaller-than-expected waves prompted the lifting of a Pacific-wide alert. Hawaii and other Pacific islands were also spared. In Japan, where hundreds of thousands were evacuated , the biggest wave following the magnitude-8.8...

Hawaii 'Dodged a Bullet' on Tsunami

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:05:23 CST

A tsunami triggered by the Chilean earthquake sent a surge of water ashore in Hawaii, California, and islands in the South Pacific today as the waves continued onto Alaska and parts of Asia. There were no immediate reports of widespread damage, injuries, or deaths in the US or in the...

Tsunami Advisory Extends to Oregon, Washington

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:27:59 CST

A tsunami advisory has been extended to include the states of Oregon and Washington and parts of Alaska, as well as coastal British Colombia. An earlier advisory covered the California coast. An advisory is the lowest level alert, meaning there is a possibility of strong localized currents but no significant...

Pacific Braces for Tsunami

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:05:20 CST

Wide swaths of the south Pacific, Asia, and Australia braced for a tsunami after a devastating earthquake hit the coast of Chile this morning. Officials in Japan and Australia warned a tsunami from the earthquake was likely to hit Asian shorelines within 24 hours. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in...

Tsunami Toll Reaches 100, Obama Sends Disaster Aid

Jason Farago — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:39:51 CDT

The death toll from the tsunami triggered by last night's 8.3-magnitude earthquake near Samoa has risen to more than 100, with fatalities reported across a number of islands. Barack Obama declared American Samoa a disaster area and has pledged "swift and aggressive" aid to the territory, where at least...