THE SEISMOLOGY SECTION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER (PTWC) ISSUED AT 0118Z 06 FEB 2013
THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO ALL COASTAL LOW LYING AREAS OF FIJI.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED TO WARN THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL ESPECIALLY COASTAL DWELLERS OF OUR COUNTRY.
AN UNDERSEA EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH PRELIMINERY PARAMETERS:
MAGNITUDE/SIZE: 8.0
DEPTH: 33km BELOW EARTH SURFACE
LOCATION: SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS, SOLOMON ISLANDS
TIME: 01:12pm
A POTENTIAL TSUNAMI HAS CONFIRMED BEING GENERATED AND TSUNAMI WARNING IS NOW ISSUED FOR THE WHOLE REPUBLIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS ESPECIALLY COASTAL LOW LYING DWELLERS AS WE HAVE ONLY 1 HOUR LEFT FOR THE 1ST WAVE TO HIT OUR SHORES. ARRIVAL TIME AT SUVA IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT 0405 PM AND LITTLE EARLIER IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY.
· TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN FORCE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND WE ADVISE ALL RESIDENTS ON LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS TO PLEASE EVACUATE TO HIGHER GROUND FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. THOSE ALREADY ON HIGHER GROUNDS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE FOR EASING THE EVACUATION PROCESS OF LOW LYING COASTAL DWELLERS DURING WARNING PERIOD.
· SCHOOLS IN COASTAL AREAS ARE ADVISED TO RELEASE STUDENTS AND TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. SCHOOL AUTHORITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY MUST DETERMINE WHETHER STUDENTS ARE SAFE TO REMAIN IN SCHOOLS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS THAT LIVE IN COASTAL AREAS. THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS MUST COME FIRST. IF STUDENTS ARE SAFER IN SCHOOLS, KEEP THEM IN SCHOOLS.
THE SEISMOLOGY OBSERVATORY (MRD) IN CONJUNCTION WITH PTWC WILL ISSUE RESPECTIVE BULLETINS FOR EVERY 30 MINUTES UNTIL CANCELLATION. AS WE WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORING ALL THE TIDE GAUGES READINGS WITHIN THE PACIFIC AND ISSUE UPDATES AS NECESSARY.
CONSECUTIVE BULLETINS FOR LATEST UPDATES UNTIL CANCELLATION WILL BE ISSUED ON EVERY 30 MINUTES INTERVAL.
SEISMOLOGY OBSERVATORY
MINERAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, FIJI.
PHONE: 3381611 EXT 472, 473, 474
FAX: 3370039/3383910