After an 8.8 earthquake struck off Chile's coast yesterday, a tsunami warning was issued around the Pacific. Though there were fears that waves as high as 6 to 10 feet could hit the Hawaiian islands—prompting residents and tourists to flee to higher ground—there were only "erratic surges in the sea."
Gerard Fryer, a Pacific Tsunami Warning Center geo physicist, told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, "We clearly had a tsunami in the water and we had to evacuate. I think we dodged a bullet." Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle said, "It's a great day, now that it's over. We really got a chance to watch our operation closely. It's given me a great level of confidence that we know how to prepare. And if the public cooperates the way it did today, we shouldn't ever have to risk anyone's life or safety in an event like this."
In Chile, aftershocks are still being felt, with a strong one occurring this morning. Over 1.5 million are displaced and the death toll is at over 300 people but the government will update later today. CNN reports that there are fears of looting in Concepcion, which is 70 miles from the epicenter and the country's second largest metropolitan area: "Desperate residents scrounged for water and supplies inside empty and damaged supermarkets. On Sunday morning, authorities resorted to using tear gas and water cannons in some instances to disperse looters." Chileans in NY are desperately trying to reach their loved ones—a man told the Daily News that cell phones aren't working, "The phones are ringing in people's houses, but everyone is too afraid to be inside."
