Update as of 5 a.m. : the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has cancelled their tsunami warning for Indonesia, the Philippines, and Belau.
Initial story as of 3 a.m. Friday, August 31: A tsunami warning is in effect for Indonesia, the Philippines, and Belau because of an earthquake that hit around 2:47 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time, 8:47 p.m. local time in the Philippines. A warning means a tsunami may be generated, or may have been generated. Residents are warned to seek higher ground until an “all clear” is given. A tsunami watch is in effect for Chuuk, the Marcus Islands, Kosrae, Pohnpei, the Marshall Islands, Wake Island, the Solomon Isands, Russia, and Nauru.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a Tsunami Watch for Hawaii County but cancelled it. However, they warn that there may be small, non-destructive sea level changes or strong currents starting around 12:30 p.m. Friday.
The earthquake was magnitude 7.6 (initially thought to be 7.9, the magnitude was lowered after review by the USGS) and struck off the island of Samar in the Philippines. The coordinates of the quake were 10.9 North and 127.1 East. It was 33 miles deep. The earthquake was 464 miles away from Manila.
There are unconfirmed reports that some bridges and roads were damaged in the quake. There are no reports of destructive tsunami waves hitting in the Philippines yet, But as Hawaii Island residents know, it’s not always the first wave that’s destructive—and the waves may go on for hours.
