A powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake generated a Pacific tsunami on Wednesday, killing an unknown number of people in American and Western Samoa and sending others fleeing for higher ground, officials said.
An official of the United States National Park Service said there had been deaths in American Samoa, but there was no word on how many. Similarly, a local police spokesperson in nearby Western Samoa said the tsunami had killed an unknown number of people there.
Had a trip scheduled for 2 weeks from today to this area.
Word is that the resort, Salani (southeast side of Upolo island in Western Samoa), has been wiped out.
More info here on what's happening from owner of the place. He's presently in US but is relaying info he's getting http://twitter.com/georgedanellis
Tsunami Advisory issued for California -- http://www.wunderground.com/US/CA/006.html
How big would a 20-65cm tsunami at OB be? Would it amplify to some size larger than that (given that 65cm is only about 2', that wouldn't even generate longboard surf)?
