Tsunami Claims 200 After 7.7Mw Quake Strikes Indonesia

At Least 200 Dead or Missing After Tsunami Created by Powerful Quake Destroys Villages Off Western Indonesia

At least 10 villages were obliterated by a 3-m high tsunami created after a 7.7Mw quake struck off the Mentawai islands, Sumatra, western Indonesia.

A huge white wave which was created by the quake washed away  just about everything in sight, eyewitnesses said.

At least 25 people are confirmed dead with about 170 others [local officials say at least 380 people] reported  as missing.

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS-EHP. Enhanced by Fire-Earth.

Mount Merapi Erupts

Meanwhile  the volatile Mount Merapi volcano began erupting Tuesday after rumbling for about 24 hours.

State vulcanologists believe that the pressure buildup withing Merapi could lead to powerful explosions.

About 40,000 people living on the slopes of the volcano have been evacuated.

Mount Merapi rumbled for many hours before spewing smoke on Tuesday. Photo shows volcano from Balerante, Central Java, Indonesia. Merapi last erupted in 2006. About 1,400 people have been killed as a result of 3 previous eruptions since 1930. Image Credit: AP. Caption: Fire-Earth.

New Zealand Earthquake Forecast:

Fire-Earth Moderators believe a large earthquake measuring about 8.8Mw could strike New Zealand Region.

Earthquake Details

• Magnitude: 7.7
• Date-Time:
  • Monday, October 25, 2010 at 14:42:22 UTC
  • Monday, October 25, 2010 at 09:42:22 PM at epicenter

• Location: 3.484°S, 100.114°E
• Depth: 20.6 km
• Region: KEPULAUAN MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA
• Distances:
  • 240 km (150 miles) W of Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia
  • 280 km (175 miles) S of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia
  • 305 km (190 miles) W of Lubuklinggau, Sumatra, Indonesia
  • 795 km (500 miles) WNW of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia

• Location Uncertainty:
  • horizontal +/- 5.3 km (3.3 miles)
  • depth +/- 3.4 km (2.1 miles)

• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: usa00043nx

Related Links:

• 3 Waves of Significant Quakes Strike Our Planet
• Global Earthquakes Tempi Rising [Posted on July 20, 2010]

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links