Earthquake News

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Earthquake News, Federal officials issued a tsunami advisory for the California coast after a 7.9 temblor struck American Samoa earlier .

Officials said that they don’t believe coastal regions are likely to suffer much damage but that some beaches could see higher-than-usual tides about 9 p.m. Pacific time. Curt Kaplan of the National Weather Service in Oxnard said the seismic activity could bring waves a foot higher than normal.

“This is an advisory, not a warning,” he said. “But if I were on the [immediate] coast, I would move inland.”

He said “light fluctuation in tides and currents” are expected and could last for several hours.

The weather service issued a statement that said in part: “A Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is imminent or expected.

Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.”

The quake struck about 10:45 a.m. about 4,000 miles from Los Angeles, and officials in American Samoa have reported some fatalities.