Tsunami rapidly approaches Hawaii

Moving faster than original estimates

Published February 27, 2010 5:43PM (EST)

Projection from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the predicted distribution of energy in the Pacific Ocean following the Chile earthquake.
Projection from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the predicted distribution of energy in the Pacific Ocean following the Chile earthquake.

A geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii says the tsunami was approaching Hawaii a bit faster than originally predicted.

Victor Sardina says data coming in from buoys and tide gauges across the Pacific indicated the tsunami should arrive in Hawaii at 11:05 a.m. (4:05 p.m. EST), instead of 11:19 a.m.

He predicts the tsunami would be a series of big waves, rather than a wall of water.

Charles McCreery, director of the center, says the tsunami will be "a lot like a fast high tide" and could pose dangers for several hours after the initial waves hit.

 


By Associated Press

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Chile Earthquake