TOKYO (AFP) - – Japanese authorities warned of a tsunami risk
across wide areas of the Pacific after Chile's huge earthquake,
saying that any tsunami could reach Japan around noon (0300 GMT) on
Sunday.
Asian nations are highly sensitive to any tsunami risk following
the massive Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004 that left
over 220,000 people dead.
In the Philippines, which has seen a series of devastating
natural disasters over the past year, authorities warned coastal
communities in the east of the archipelago to prepare for possible
evacuation.
"We can imagine that a tsunami resulting from the earthquake may
affect Japan," Yasuo Sekita, a Japanese meteorological agency
official, told a hurriedly arranged news conference.
If generated, a tsunami would reach the east coast of Japan
around Sunday noon, the official said. "We would like people to be
fully on alert for related information."
An 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean near the
coast of Chile at 3:34 am local time (0634 GMT) on Saturday
morning.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake had
generated a tsunami and that all Pacific nations could be at risk,
as well as Central and South America.
Tsunami warnings were issued by Australia and New Zealand and
the Philippines said it was making arrangements for possible
evacuations.
"No evacuation order is in effect but communities along the east
coast of the country are advised to wait for further information
and to prepare for possible evacuation," the Philippine Institute
of Volcanology and Seismology said. "Coastal areas fronting the
Pacific Ocean... should keep watch."
In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama ordered his
government to be prepared to offer support for victims if
necessary, Jiji Press reported.
"I told ministries concerned to be ready to take measures in
case relief assistance is needed," Hatoyama told reporters.
Earlier in the day, Japan's Okinawa island was hit by its
biggest seismic jolt in more than half a century when a powerful
earthquake struck, triggering minor tsunamis but causing only minor
injuries and small amounts of damage.
