8.0 Quake Santa Cruz Islands, NO Tsunami Threat to Hawaii

Santa Cruz Islands Earthquake February 5, 2013, image courtesy USGS.

By Wendy Osher

UPDATE 4:38 p.m. 2/5/13: Based on all available data, a destructive Pacific wide tsunami is not expected an there is NO tsunami threat to Hawaii.

A tsunami has been confirmed in areas near the epicenter, but it should not affect Hawaii, according to authorities with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.  

The assessment was made following a 8.0 preliminary magnitude earthquake reported at 3:15 p.m. (HST) on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 in the Santa Cruz Islands region.

__________________________________________

UPDATE: 5:56 p.m. 2/5/13:

The tsunami warning issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is now cancelled for:  The Solomon Islands; Vanuatu; Nauru; Papua New Guinea; Tuvalu; New Caledonia; Kosrae; Fiji; Kiribati; Wallis and Futuna.

The tsunami watch issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is now cancelled for: the Marshall Islands; Howland and Baker; Pohnpei; Tokelau; Samoa; Kermadec Islands; New Zealand; American Samoa; Tonga; Australia; Niue; Cook Islands; Indonesia; Wake Island; Chuuk; Jarvis Island; Guam; Northern Marianas; Palmyra Island; Yap; Johnston Island; Minamitorishima; and Belau.

The assessment was made following a 8.0 preliminary magnitude earthquake reported at 3:15 p.m. (HST) on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 in the Santa Cruz Islands region.

__________________________________________

UPDATE: 3:22 p.m. 2/5/13:

Authorities are evaluating the impacts of an 8.0 preliminary magnitude earthquake reported at 3:15 p.m. (HST) on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 in the Santa Cruz Islands region.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued an expanding regional tsunami warning and watch for parts of the Pacific located closer to the earthquake.

As a result of the quake, a tsunami warning has been issued for the following areas: Solomon Islands; Vanuatu; Nauru; Papua New Guinea; Tuvalu; New Caledonia; Kosrae; Fiji; Kiribati; Wallis and Futuna.

Santa Cruz Islands Earthquake February 5, 2013, image courtesy USGS.

A tsunami watch is in effect for the following areas:  Marshall Islands; Howland and Baker; Pohnpei; Tokelau; Samoa; Kermadec Islands; New Zealand; American Samoa; Tonga; Australia; Niue; Cook Islands; Indonesia; Wake Island; Chuuk; Jarvis Island; Guam; Northern Marianas; Palmyra Island; Yap; Johnston Island; Minamitorishima; and Belau.