Major Earthquake Alert

8.5 quake occurs in Indian Ocean, tsunamis feared: Japan agency +...
8.3 Mag... same location as the giant quake that hit the area Dec. 26: U.S...

THIS EARTHQUAKE IS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE PACIFIC. NO TSUNAMI THREAT
EXISTS TO COASTLINES IN THE PACIFIC.

WARNING... THIS EARTHQUAKE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A WIDELY
DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI IN THE OCEAN OR SEAS NEAR THE EARTHQUAKE.
AUTHORITIES IN THOSE REGIONS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBILITY
AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION. THIS ACTION SHOULD INCLUDE EVACUATION
OF COASTS WITHIN A THOUSAND KILOMETERS OF THE EPICENTER AND CLOSE
MONITORING TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR EVACUATION FURTHER AWAY.

THIS CENTER DOES NOT HAVE SEA LEVEL GAUGES OUTSIDE THE PACIFIC
SO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DETECT OR MEASURE A TSUNAMI IF ONE WAS
GENERATED. AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE DANGER HAS PASSED IF NO
TSUNAMI WAVES ARE OBSERVED IN THE REGION NEAR THE EPICENTER
WITHIN THREE HOURS OF THE EARTHQUAKE.

THIS WILL BE THE ONLY BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

Now, let's be absolutely clear on this. There is still no Indian Ocean tsunami warning system in place, but there is a distinct possibility that a tsunami could have been created by this latest earthquake. Only time and direct observations will be able to determine whether that has occurred.

The prudent thing for local governments may be to warn local populations to stay away from the coast and head towards higher ground. I hope that the local governments are watching the sitaution closely and putting safety ahead of economic concerns.

UPDATE 3/29/2005 11:20AM EST:
No tsunami detected, and scientists are puzzled over reasons. There is much that scientists have to learn about destructive forces of nature, and it is possible that the reason that this quake did not cause a tsunami has to do with the fact that this quake did not displace water in the same way as the December 26 quake did.