IAEM Oceania

Source: New Zealand Government

Minister praises Kiwis' readiness for tsunami

Civil Defence Minister John Carter has congratulated regional civil defence operations and coastal communities for their organisation and response to the tsunami warning issued for New Zealand this morning.

An earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale caused widespread damage in Samoa this morning, and triggered a tsunami which reports suggest has wiped out buildings and claimed lives.

Source: SmartTraveller.gov.au

Australians (and possibly Canadians if there are any) can get assistance from the Australian High Commission:

Australian High Commission
Beach Road
Apia, Samoa
Telephone: (685) 23 411
Facsimile: (685) 23 159
Website: http://www.samoa.highcommission.gov.au

Here are some updated charts from NZ tidal gauges at ~1355 NZDT. Note that recording appears to have stopped from the Raoul Island sites - this could be a problem with sensors and/or communications. I'll try and find out more.

Detided

Tide Guage

In addition to the earlier listed appeal on Givealittle, there is also a page available on the NZ Red Cross website to make donations.

NZ Red Cross Online Donation form - under campaign select Samoa Red Cross earthquake/tsunami appeal.

Source: Fullers

30th September 2009 - TSUNAMI WARNING UPDATE: ALL SERVICES RESUMING NORMAL OPERATION FROM 1.30pm

Updated 1.30pm
Following advice given by Harbour Control and the Harbourmaster’s Office, we will now resume all services as quickly as possible.
Please check back regularly for updates.

Thank you.

Source: Further tsunami wave expected for New Zealand on Stuff.co.nz

Source: Canterbury CDEM Group

30 Sept. 2009

1:10 p.m.

CIVIL DEFENCE

MEDIA STATEMENT

Due to the recent 8.3 magnitude earthquake in Samoa, the Canterbury Emergency Management Group is monitoring the current tsunami situation closely.

The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management is still monitoring the situation and a tsunami advisory is still in place.

Source: Deaths toll rises after quake, tsunami hit Samoa on Stuff.co.nz

"We are on our way to the south coast where our people have told us of 11 deaths and we heard on the radio of another three," the secretary general of the Red Cross in Samoa, Talutala Mauala told AFP. "There have also been some injuries. We won't know the full extent of the damage until we get there and see for ourselves." Russell Hunter, editor of the Samoan Observer, said it was difficult to get information. Internet and phone connections were patchy. The latest he had heard was that at least 17 were confirmed dead. “But it will undoubtedly go much higher than that. The damage is very, very widespread particularly on the south-east coast (of Upolu),” he said.

Source: Fuller

30th September 2009 - TSUNAMI WARNING: ALL SERVICES SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Updated 12.56pm

After a further update from Auckland Harbour Control and the Auckland Harbourmaster’s Office, the warning is still in place and there may be bigger waves than originally expected. As a result, we will continue to suspend our services until further notice.
Please check back regularly for updates.
Thank you.

Source: Radio NZ News @ 1230 NZDT

Now confirmation of 14 fatalities across Samoa and Amercian Samoa, and unconfirmed reports of higher, at least 40.