Chief Meteorological Officer, 'Ofa Faanunu said on Radio Tonga at 1:45 am Sunday 28 February that an 8.8 earthquake near Chile had generated a wave and the Pacific Islands were given a Tsunami warning.

The wave has been averaging 4 feet at the recording stations so far near Chile.

He said the whole of Tonga is on tsunami alert. He estimated the arrival time of a wave in Tonga will be between 7:30 am to 8:30 am this morning.

Radio Tonga is giving updates as data comes in.

"The estimated arrival time in Tahiti and the Cook Islands is in about three hours time so we will continue to give more updates," he said.

This means that data from the Cooks may be available around 4:45am Tonga time.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Warning Center (NOAA)

www.prh.noaa.gov [2] has issued a Tsunami Bulletin showing estimated arrival times of tsunami wave activity across the Pacific. See time UTC copied at end of this article.

As the tsunami wave moves west across the Pacific, wave activity has been measured already at .35m (1.1ft) at Easter Island and .25M (.8ft) at the Galapagos Islands.

Tsunami Warning Bulletin No. 5 issued from PTWC at 3:46am local time.

A tsunami Warning is now in force for all of Tonga

An earthquake has occurred with these preliminary parameters

Time of Occurrence: 7:34PM LT27 FEB 2010

Coordinates: 36.1 S,72.6 W or Depth : 55km

Location: NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE

Magnitude: 8.8

Preliminary analysis of data received from various observation networks suggest that a tsunami may have been generated.

All persons in coastal and low lying areas all over Tonga are advised to pay special attention to A3Z radio/TV for directions and instructions. It is essential to take precautions now and wait for further notice while the tsunami warning centres are investigating the event to determine the level of danger.

-Tonga Meteorological Office

(Repeat)

Tongan

Fakatokanga Peau Kula hono 'Ulu'aki ma'a Tonga 'I hono tuku mai meihe Senita fakatokanga Sunami kihe Pasifiki 'i Hawai'i 'I he taimi 12:47am LT 28 Fepueli 2009.

'Oku 'iai ha fakatokanga ke tokateu ki ha Peau Kula ki he 'Otu Tonga Kotoa.

Na'e lulu'I 'eha mofuike 'a mataafanga 'o Chile fakafuofua ki he taimi 7:34pm efiafi 'o e 'aho Tokonaki 27 Fepueli. Na'e fe'unga 'o e uhouhonga 'o e mofuike ni mo e latitude 36.1 fakatonga longitute 72.6 hihifo.Ko e malohi 'o mofuike ni 'oku fakafuofua ne ofi 'I he 8.8 'I he me'afua mofuike.

Mei he ngaahi fakamatala kuo lava 'o tanaki mei he ngaahi me'afua mofuike he feitu'uni 'oku 'iai 'a e tui kuo 'iai ha peau kula kuo fa'u 'I he feitu'u ni pea 'e malava ke ne uesia 'a e ngaahi fonua 'o e Pasiki {kau ai a Tonga ni 'I ha ngaahi lau houa.

Koia ai 'oku 'oatu ai heni 'a e fakatokanga ki he kakai 'o e fonua kemou mou mateuteu mo fakafanongo mai ki he letio Tonga. 'E 'oatu ai 'a e ngaahi fakatokanga kotoa pe 'i hono ma'u mai pe 'a e ngaahi fakamatala fakaikiiki ki he tukunga 'oku 'iai 'a e peau kula.

SF/SV

ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS

WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL

ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE

LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN

SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME

-------------------------------- ------------ ------------

CHILE TALCAHUANO 36.7S 73.1W 0729Z 27 FEB

VALPARAISO 33.0S 71.6W 0739Z 27 FEB

COQUIMBO 29.9S 71.3W 0801Z 27 FEB

CORRAL 39.8S 73.5W 0810Z 27 FEB

CALDERA 27.1S 70.8W 0821Z 27 FEB

ANTOFAGASTA 23.3S 70.4W 0844Z 27 FEB

IQUIQUE 20.2S 70.1W 0911Z 27 FEB

ARICA 18.5S 70.3W 0929Z 27 FEB

GOLFO DE PENAS 47.1S 74.9W 0934Z 27 FEB

PUERTO MONTT 41.5S 73.0W 1052Z 27 FEB

EASTER IS. 27.1S 109.4W 1205Z 27 FEB

PUNTA ARENAS 53.2S 70.9W 1213Z 27 FEB

PUERTO WILLIAMS 54.8S 68.2W 1404Z 27 FEB

PERU MOLLENDO 17.1S 72.0W 0936Z 27 FEB

SAN JUAN 15.3S 75.2W 0952Z 27 FEB

LA PUNTA 12.1S 77.2W 1045Z 27 FEB

PIMENTAL 6.9S 80.0W 1114Z 27 FEB

TALARA 4.6S 81.5W 1127Z 27 FEB

CHIMBOTE 9.0S 78.8W 1132Z 27 FEB

ECUADOR LA LIBERTAD 2.2S 81.2W 1202Z 27 FEB

ESMERELDAS 1.2N 79.8W 1234Z 27 FEB

BALTRA IS. 0.5S 90.3W 1313Z 27 FEB

COLOMBIA TUMACO 1.8N 78.9W 1253Z 27 FEB

BAHIA SOLANO 6.3N 77.4W 1327Z 27 FEB

BUENAVENTURA 3.8N 77.2W 1340Z 27 FEB

ANTARCTICA THURSTON IS. 72.0S 100.0W 1312Z 27 FEB

CAPE ADARE 71.0S 170.0E 1650Z 27 FEB

PANAMA PUERTO PINA 7.4N 78.1W 1331Z 27 FEB

PUNTA MALA 7.5N 79.9W 1334Z 27 FEB

PUNTA BURICA 8.0N 82.8W 1340Z 27 FEB

BALBOA HTS. 9.0N 79.6W 1457Z 27 FEB

COSTA RICA CABO MATAPALO 8.4N 83.3W 1344Z 27 FEB

PUERTO QUEPOS 9.4N 84.2W 1417Z 27 FEB

CABO SAN ELENA 10.9N 86.0W 1452Z 27 FEB

NICARAGUA SAN JUAN DL SUR 11.2N 85.9W 1452Z 27 FEB

PUERTO SANDINO 12.2N 86.8W 1512Z 27 FEB

CORINTO 12.5N 87.2W 1520Z 27 FEB

PITCAIRN PITCAIRN IS. 25.1S 130.1W 1455Z 27 FEB

HONDURAS AMAPALA 13.2N 87.6W 1520Z 27 FEB

EL SALVADOR ACAJUTLA 13.6N 89.8W 1531Z 27 FEB

GUATEMALA SIPICATE 13.9N 91.2W 1539Z 27 FEB

FR. POLYNESIA RIKITEA 23.1S 135.0W 1542Z 27 FEB

HIVA OA 10.0S 139.0W 1723Z 27 FEB

PAPEETE 17.5S 149.6W 1748Z 27 FEB

MEXICO PUERTO MADERO 14.8N 92.5W 1552Z 27 FEB

ACAPULCO 16.9N 99.9W 1615Z 27 FEB

MANZANILLO 19.1N 104.3W 1709Z 27 FEB

SOCORRO 18.8N 111.0W 1719Z 27 FEB

CABO SAN LUCAS 22.8N 110.0W 1749Z 27 FEB

MAZATLAN 23.2N 106.4W 1753Z 27 FEB

PUNTA ABREOJOS 26.7N 113.6W 1856Z 27 FEB

ENSENADA 31.8N 116.8W 2016Z 27 FEB

COOK ISLANDS RAROTONGA 21.2S 159.8W 1814Z 27 FEB

PENRYN IS. 8.9S 157.8W 1925Z 27 FEB

PUKAPUKA IS. 10.8S 165.9W 1950Z 27 FEB

KIRIBATI FLINT IS. 11.4S 151.8W 1836Z 27 FEB

MALDEN IS. 3.9S 154.9W 1934Z 27 FEB

CHRISTMAS IS. 2.0N 157.5W 2028Z 27 FEB

KANTON IS. 2.8S 171.7W 2112Z 27 FEB

TARAWA IS. 1.5N 173.0E 2258Z 27 FEB

KERMADEC IS RAOUL IS. 29.2S 177.9W 1912Z 27 FEB

NIUE NIUE IS. 19.0S 170.0W 1918Z 27 FEB

NEW ZEALAND EAST CAPE 37.7S 178.5E 1918Z 27 FEB

GISBORNE 38.7S 178.0E 1922Z 27 FEB

DUNEDIN 45.9S 170.5E 1952Z 27 FEB

NAPIER 39.5S 176.9E 1954Z 27 FEB

WELLINGTON 41.3S 174.8E 1955Z 27 FEB

MILFORD SOUND 44.6S 167.9E 2005Z 27 FEB

NORTH CAPE 34.4S 173.3E 2010Z 27 FEB

BLUFF 46.6S 168.3E 2030Z 27 FEB

LYTTELTON 43.6S 172.7E 2040Z 27 FEB

AUCKLAND(E) 36.7S 175.0E 2056Z 27 FEB

NELSON 41.3S 173.3E 2127Z 27 FEB

WESTPORT 41.8S 171.6E 2129Z 27 FEB

AUCKLAND(W) 37.1S 174.2E 2140Z 27 FEB

NEW PLYMOUTH 39.1S 174.1E 2219Z 27 FEB

TONGA NUKUALOFA 21.0S 175.2W 1940Z 27 FEB

1940 UTC +13 hours is 8:40am Tonga time

AMERICAN SAMOA PAGO PAGO 14.3S 170.7W 1951Z 27 FEB

SAMOA APIA 13.8S 171.8W 2006Z 27 FEB

JARVIS IS. JARVIS IS. 0.4S 160.1W 2026Z 27 FEB

WALLIS-FUTUNA WALLIS IS. 13.2S 176.2W 2028Z 27 FEB

TOKELAU NUKUNONU IS. 9.2S 171.8W 2030Z 27 FEB

FIJI SUVA 18.1S 178.4E 2104Z 27 FEB

AUSTRALIA HOBART 43.3S 147.6E 2105Z 27 FEB

SYDNEY 33.9S 151.4E 2146Z 27 FEB

BRISBANE 27.2S 153.3E 2310Z 27 FEB

GLADSTONE 23.8S 151.4E 0101Z 28 FEB

CAIRNS 16.7S 145.8E 0159Z 28 FEB

MACKAY 21.1S 149.3E 0251Z 28 FEB

HAWAII HILO 19.7N 155.1W 2119Z 27 FEB

HONOLULU 21.3N 157.9W 2152Z 27 FEB

NAWILIWILI 22.0N 159.4W 2158Z 27 FEB

PALMYRA IS. PALMYRA IS. 6.3N 162.4W 2124Z 27 FEB

TUVALU FUNAFUTI IS. 7.9S 178.5E 2125Z 27 FEB

VANUATU ANATOM IS. 20.2S 169.9E 2137Z 27 FEB

ESPERITU SANTO 15.1S 167.3E 2235Z 27 FEB

HOWLAND-BAKER HOWLAND IS. 0.6N 176.6W 2154Z 27 FEB

NEW CALEDONIA NOUMEA 22.3S 166.5E 2218Z 27 FEB

JOHNSTON IS. JOHNSTON IS. 16.7N 169.5W 2245Z 27 FEB

SOLOMON IS. KIRAKIRA 10.4S 161.9E 2321Z 27 FEB

MUNDA 8.4S 157.2E 0001Z 28 FEB

GHATERE 7.8S 159.2E 0001Z 28 FEB

AUKI 8.8S 160.6E 0004Z 28 FEB

HONIARA 9.3S 160.0E 0004Z 28 FEB

FALAMAE 7.4S 155.6E 0017Z 28 FEB

PANGGOE 6.9S 157.2E 0020Z 28 FEB

NAURU NAURU 0.5S 166.9E 2331Z 27 FEB

MARSHALL IS. MAJURO 7.1N 171.4E 2339Z 27 FEB

KWAJALEIN 8.7N 167.7E 0013Z 28 FEB

ENIWETOK 11.4N 162.3E 0102Z 28 FEB

MIDWAY IS. MIDWAY IS. 28.2N 177.4W 0022Z 28 FEB

KOSRAE KOSRAE IS. 5.5N 163.0E 0026Z 28 FEB

PAPUA NEW GUINE AMUN 6.0S 154.7E 0036Z 28 FEB

KIETA 6.1S 155.6E 0038Z 28 FEB

RABAUL 4.2S 152.3E 0102Z 28 FEB

PORT MORESBY 9.3S 146.9E 0123Z 28 FEB

LAE 6.8S 147.0E 0128Z 28 FEB

KAVIENG 2.5S 150.7E 0135Z 28 FEB

MADANG 5.2S 145.8E 0154Z 28 FEB

MANUS IS. 2.0S 147.5E 0214Z 28 FEB

WEWAK 3.5S 143.6E 0237Z 28 FEB

VANIMO 2.6S 141.3E 0258Z 28 FEB

POHNPEI POHNPEI IS. 7.0N 158.2E 0111Z 28 FEB

WAKE IS. WAKE IS. 19.3N 166.6E 0112Z 28 FEB

CHUUK CHUUK IS. 7.4N 151.8E 0213Z 28 FEB

RUSSIA MEDNNY IS 54.7N 167.4E 0236Z 28 FEB

UST KAMCHATSK 56.1N 162.6E 0302Z 28 FEB

PETROPAVLOVSK K 53.2N 159.6E 0333Z 28 FEB

URUP IS 46.1N 150.5E 0354Z 28 FEB

SEVERO KURILSK 50.8N 156.1E 0410Z 28 FEB

MARCUS IS. MARCUS IS. 24.3N 154.0E 0248Z 28 FEB

INDONESIA JAYAPURA 2.4S 140.8E 0302Z 28 FEB

WARSA 0.6S 135.8E 0345Z 28 FEB

MANOKWARI 0.8S 134.2E 0405Z 28 FEB

SORONG 0.8S 131.1E 0433Z 28 FEB

BEREBERE 2.5N 128.7E 0452Z 28 FEB

PATANI 0.4N 128.8E 0505Z 28 FEB

GEME 4.6N 126.8E 0512Z 28 FEB

N. MARIANAS SAIPAN 15.3N 145.8E 0303Z 28 FEB

GUAM GUAM 13.4N 144.7E 0311Z 28 FEB

YAP YAP IS. 9.5N 138.1E 0352Z 28 FEB

BELAU MALAKAL 7.3N 134.5E 0413Z 28 FEB

JAPAN KUSHIRO 42.9N 144.3E 0435Z 28 FEB

KATSUURA 35.1N 140.3E 0453Z 28 FEB

HACHINOHE 40.5N 141.5E 0509Z 28 FEB

SHIMIZU 32.8N 133.0E 0557Z 28 FEB

OKINAWA 26.2N 127.8E 0610Z 28 FEB

PHILIPPINES DAVAO 6.8N 125.7E 0527Z 28 FEB

PALANAN 17.1N 122.6E 0559Z 28 FEB

LEGASPI 13.2N 123.8E 0604Z 28 FEB

CHINESE TAIPEI HUALIEN 24.0N 121.6E 0626Z 28 FEB

HUALIEN 24.0N 121.7E 0626Z 28 FEB

CHILUNG 25.2N 121.8E 0654Z 28 FEB

TAITUNG 22.7N 121.2E 0655Z 28 FEB