Tongans watch for tsunami wave activity [1]
Saturday, March 12, 2011 - 05:31. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
TONGANS are on alert this morning as the estimated time of arrival of a tsunami wave generated by the Japan earthquake on March 11 has passed.
The estimated arrival time of a tsunami wave affecting Tonga was around 5:00am this morning, according to the NOAA warnings.
However, residents on the seafront of Nuku'alofa were not aware of any wave activity by around 5:20 am March 12.
Some residents of low-lying islands, such as Pangaimotu off the coast of Tongatapu said they had moved into Nuku'alofa as a precaution overnight.
Meanwhile, some residents of the capital had moved to higher ground around Mata-ki-'Eua and Fua'amotu International Airport. People began sheltering at the airport after midnight but the largest influx started after Tonga's chief meteorological officer issued a warning at 4:40 am advising all persons in low lying areas to take precautions and to move inland and to higher ground and wait for further notice.
Mona Lisa Palu who went to Fua'amotu Airport at 2:00am and stayed there for the rest of the night, said that people were beginning to leave the higher area at around 6:00am. "There are about 30 vehicles here and people have brought mats to lie on, and their radios. The airport terminal has opened the toilets."
In Vava'u a coastal fisherman, Tonga Tuita, reported that he had not seen any unusual wave activity by 5:45 am this morning after checking his fish traps. "It was a good catch," he said after collecting a few baskets of fish around the time the tsunami was predicted.
In Tongatapu it will be low tide this morning at 6:16am, and sunrise is around the same time.
NWFC advisory
The National Weather Forecasting Centre at Fua'amotu at 4:40 am had advised that the nearest tide gauge reading to Tonga was at Manus Island at 3:25am recorded a wave amplitude of 3.1ft. The centre advised:
"All persons in coastal and low lying areas all over Tonga are hereby advised to pay special attention to A3Z radio for directions and warnings. It is essential to take precautions now and move inland and to higher ground and wait for further notice.
"Mariners are advised to stay away from the coast or move to deep ocean.
"Bulletins will be issued as new information is received. Until then, a tsunami warning is in force for the whole of the Tonga Islands."
NOAA
Meanwhile, the latest bulletin at 5:38 am Tonga time from NOAA reported that tsunami wave activity was recorded in several Pacific Island countries as follows:
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 012
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 1638Z 11 MAR 2011 (Tonga time 5:38 am, March 12)
MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY
GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER
------------------- ----- ------ ----- --------------- -----
VANUATU 17.8S 168.3E 1542Z 0.69M / 2.3FT 22MIN
LAUTOKA FJ 17.6S 177.4E 1545Z 0.33M / 1.1FT 76MIN
LOMBRUM MANUS IS PG 2.0S 147.4E 1529Z 1.04M / 3.4FT 62MIN
PAGO PAGO AS 14.3S 170.7W 1556Z 0.34M / 1.1FT 16MIN
HONIARA SB 9.4S 160.0E 1402Z 0.21M / 0.7FT 72MIN
MANUS PG 2.0S 147.4E 1425Z 0.93M / 3.1FT 34MIN
KANTON KI 2.8S 171.7W 1425Z 0.05M / 0.2FT 10MIN
CHRISTMAS KI 2.0N 157.5W 1447Z 0.56M / 1.9FT 52MIN
BETIO TARAWA KI 1.4N 172.9E 1225Z 0.21M / 0.7FT 24MIN
NAURU 0.5S 166.9E 1156Z 0.20M / 0.7FT 24MIN
JOHNSTON US 16.7N 169.5W 1206Z 0.20M / 0.7FT 72MIN
MIDWAY 28.2N 177.4W 1048Z 1.27M / 4.2FT 12MIN
YAP FM 9.5N 138.1E 1013Z 0.15M / 0.5FT 88MIN
WAKE US 19.3N 166.6E 0928Z 0.39M / 1.3FT 14MIN
SAIPAN US 15.2N 145.7E 0916Z 0.65M / 2.1FT 30MIN