The first small waves of a tsunami caused by an earthquake in Chile reached French Polynesia on Saturday, authorities said.
Residents were asked to move away from the shores and seek high ground while schools were shut down and most roads closed.
The first waves hit Gambier Archipelago at 10:50 a.m EST and Tahiti at 12:50 p.m. EST but Tahiti's seismological center said the waves were only 36 centimeters high.
The tsunami is expected to hit Bora Bora at 1:15 p.m. EST, the French Polynesia High Commissioner said in a statement.
French Polynesia President Gaston Tong Sang sought to reassure residents saying the territory was used to cyclones and hurricanes.
Earth Changes
The winters showing no signs of letting up in the Russian capital, where relentless snowfall has broken a record that's stood for almost 50 years. And as the white stuff continues to come down, Moscow's working to prevent the winter fairytale from turning into a nightmare.
Ewa Beach - A tsunami triggered by the Chilean earthquake raced across the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, threatening Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast as well as hundreds of islands from the bottom of the planet to the top.
Sirens blared in Hawaii to alert residents to the potential waves. Nine small planes equipped with loudspeakers flew along the shoreline, warning beachgoers. On several South Pacific islands hit by a tsunami last fall, police evacuated tens of thousands of coastal residents.
The first waves in Hawaii were expected to hit shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday (4 p.m. EST; 2100 GMT) and measure roughly 8 feet (2.5 meters) at Hilo. Most Pacific Rim nations did not immediately order evacuations, but advised people in low-lying areas to be on the lookout.
Sirens blared in Hawaii to alert residents to the potential waves. Nine small planes equipped with loudspeakers flew along the shoreline, warning beachgoers. On several South Pacific islands hit by a tsunami last fall, police evacuated tens of thousands of coastal residents.
The first waves in Hawaii were expected to hit shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday (4 p.m. EST; 2100 GMT) and measure roughly 8 feet (2.5 meters) at Hilo. Most Pacific Rim nations did not immediately order evacuations, but advised people in low-lying areas to be on the lookout.
© Martin Bernetti/AFP
A destroyed pharmacy in Vina del Mar
A destroyed pharmacy in Vina del Mar
The 8.8 magnitude quake struck at 0634 GMT about 115km (70 miles) north-east of the city of Concepcion and 325km south-west of the capital, Santiago.
President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" in affected areas and appealed for calm.
Tsunami warnings have been issued for Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Central America and Pacific island nations.
© David Boe/AP
People shovel snow off a sidewalk in front of businesses as pedestrians make their way during a snowstorm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York, Friday, Feb. 26
People shovel snow off a sidewalk in front of businesses as pedestrians make their way during a snowstorm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York, Friday, Feb. 26
Commuters struggled in the absence of suburban train and bus services into New York City, where the National Weather Service said more than 20 inches of snow had fallen so far with the storm set to become the third heaviest on record.
The heaviest storm to hit New York was in February 2006 when 26.9 inches blanketed the city. The latest storm took New York City's total snowfall for February to more than 36 inches, making it the snowiest month on record.
"Enough is enough -- I am tired of shoveling," said retired Ron Rigo, 62, as he tried to dig out his car in a Manhattan street. "It's the worst winter in recent years."
Tampa -- Arctic air will settled into the Bay area Thursday, setting the stage for a night of freezing temperatures for much of the region.
The high only made it to around 57 degrees, which is about 20 degrees below average for this time of year.
Small craft advisories are in effect.
The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning for the entire Tampa Bay area, with the exception of Pinellas County. The Freeze Warning will be in effect from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m. Friday morning.
A Freeze Warning is issued when three or more hours of temperatures between 27 and 32 degrees are expected over a widespread area.
The high only made it to around 57 degrees, which is about 20 degrees below average for this time of year.
Small craft advisories are in effect.
The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning for the entire Tampa Bay area, with the exception of Pinellas County. The Freeze Warning will be in effect from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m. Friday morning.
A Freeze Warning is issued when three or more hours of temperatures between 27 and 32 degrees are expected over a widespread area.
© CBS
Plows and salters were out on Friday trying to clear the highways and streets in Toronto.
Plows and salters were out on Friday trying to clear the highways and streets in Toronto.
More than 150 flights were cancelled or delayed at Pearson International Airport Friday as the tail end of a two-day snowstorm pounded the Greater Toronto Area.
Airport authorities are advising travellers to call ahead to see whether their flights have been grounded.
Parts of the region received between 10 and 15 centimetres of snow throughout the day, making roads slushy and slick.
© AFP
A lightning illuminates the sky over Cairo.
A lightning illuminates the sky over Cairo.
In the northern Mediterranean city of Alexandria, waves as high as a two-storey building pounded the coast, media reports said.
Thursday evening's hail storm in Cairo, the first in many years, caused mayhem in the capital, snarling traffic and bringing the sprawling city to a virtual standstill.
Cars crawled on the slippery roads as lightning periodically lit up the drenched streets.
The downpour followed a heat wave and caught many off guard.
© Associated Press
The massive quake plunged much of the Chilean capital, Santiago, into darkness as it snapped power lines and severed communications, and AFP journalists spoke of walls and masonry collapsing. People in pyjamas fled onto the streets.
Residents in the south of the city, which appeared to have borne the brunt of the quake, said roads had crumpled and a bridge had been damaged, as an AFP correspondent said buildings "shook like jelly."
Japan's meteorological agency also warned of a tsunami risk across large areas of the Pacific including as far away as the Antarctic as the Philippines warned low lying coastal areas to prepare for a possible evacuation. Related article: 'Widespread' tsunami warning for Pacific nations
An earthquake with an initial magnitude of 8.8 has hit Chile. Early reports of buildings having collapsed and communications disrupted. Tsunami warning issued as far as Australia.
Update#7. Almost all countries in the Pacific have been issued a warning, including New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii and as far as Russia and Japan.
There has been no contact with the Chilean city of Concepcion, a coastal area home to more than 600,000 people which is under 100 kilometres from the quake epicentre.
Update#7. Almost all countries in the Pacific have been issued a warning, including New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii and as far as Russia and Japan.
There has been no contact with the Chilean city of Concepcion, a coastal area home to more than 600,000 people which is under 100 kilometres from the quake epicentre.
