Tsunami advisory issued for coastal B.C. after massive earthquake rocks Chile

A tsunami advisory has been issued for coastal British Columbia after a massive earthquake struck Chile.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center made the advisory, which means there's "a possibility of strong localized currents".

B.C.'s Provincial Emergency Program issued the following notification bulletin this morning (February 27):

This is an important bulletin from the Provincial Emergency Notification System.

A large earthquake magnitude 8.8 has occurred off the coast of Chile, South America.

The West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre has upgraded British Columbia to a TSUNAMI ADVISORY LEVEL. The Tsunami Advisory includes all of Coastal British Columbia.

Tsunami Advisory means that there is a possibility of strong localized currents. No significant inundation is expected, but low-laying coastal areas and beaches are at risk.

EXPERTS PREDICT A FIRST WAVE ARRIVAL TIME OF 15:11 PST AT THE SOUTHERN BC COASTLINE.

Recommended Actions:
Local Governments may consider activating their Emergency Plans including evacuating marinas, beaches and other areas that are below normal high tide mark. Persons in Tsunami Advisory areas should move out of the water, off the beach and out of harbours and marinas.

The Provincial Emergency Program will issue updated information as it becomes available.

This Bulletin is issued at 07:00 PST, Saturday, February 27, 2010.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of this morning's 8.8-magnitude earthquake was 100 kilometres northwest of Chillan, Chile.

"A large vigorous aftershock sequence can be expected from this earthquake," the USGS stated on its Web site.

At least 122 people have been killed.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

Comments

2 Comments

quake

Mar 11, 2011 at 7:01am

Huh? Are you sure the earthquake didn't happen in Japan?

11 4Rating: +7

Point of Order

Mar 12, 2011 at 12:53pm

@quake..... dude check the dates on this article... it's from last year.

9 5Rating: +4