MAGNITUDE 4.8 – TONGA
Subject To Change
Depth: 10 km
Distances: 425 km N of Nuku‘alofa, Tonga / pop: 22,400 / local time: 07:00:12.0 2013-12-06
136 km N of Neiafu, Tonga / pop: 4,320 / local time: 07:00:12.0 2013-12-06
MAGNITUDE 4.7 – SOUTH OF PANAMA
Subject To Change
Depth: 10 km
Distances: 343 km NW of Quito, Ecuador / pop: 1,399,814 / local time: 12:02:59.8 2013-12-05
316 km NW of Pasto, Colombia / pop: 382,236 / local time: 12:02:59.8 2013-12-05
128 km NW of Francisco Pizarro / pop: 6,105 / local time: 12:02:00.0 2013-12-05
MAGNITUDE 5.0 – KURIL ISLANDS
Subject To Change
Depth: 80 km
Distances: 2007 km NE of Tokyo, Japan / pop: 8,336,599 / local time: 19:38:47.0 2013-12-05
452 km SW of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia / pop: 187,282 / local time: 22:38:47.0 2013-12-05
143 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia / pop: 2,422 / local time: 21:38:47.0 2013-12-05
MAGNITUDE 4.9 – SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Subject To Change
Depth: 80 km
Distances: 714 km N of Port-Vila, Vanuatu / pop: 35,901 / local time: 20:36:13.0 2013-12-05
447 km N of Luganville / pop: 13,397 / local time: 20:36:00.0 2013-12-05
287 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu / pop: 1,171 / local time: 20:36:13.0 2013-12-05
Two Dead And Thousands Evacuated
As 100mph winds lash Britain, fears of devastating tidal surges see 10,000 families in coastal areas urged to leave their homes
The worst tidal surge in 60 years is sweeping down England’s east coast, as thousands of households are braced for a battering tonight and the threat of severe flooding.
Two people have died as the storm, bringing gale-force winds and extra high tides, moved south from Scotland throughout the day causing travel chaos and major disruption.
One man died after he was struck by a falling tree in a park in Retford, Nottinghamshire, and a lorry driver was killed when the HGV he was driving was blown on top of two cars on the A801 near Bathgate, West Lothian. Four others were injured in the accident.
Thousands of homes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are being evacuated as people across the east coast prepare for the surges that could put lives at risk.
And more than 100,000 homes in Scotland and Northern Ireland are without power with winds of 142 miles per hour recorded near Inverness.
The weather has also disrupted rail services in Scotland, northern England and East Anglia.
The Environment Agency (EA) has issued 41 severe flood warnings – the highest possible warning, meaning floods could endanger people’s lives.
The warnings have been issued in Kent, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
People in affected areas are urged to stay in a safe place with a means of escape and be prepared should they need to evacuate their homes.
The River Tyne in Newcastle has burst its banks, flooding the surrounding area.
The pavement around the base of the Tyne Bridge, the Millennium Bridge and the city’s Crown Court were left completely under water.
Northumbria Police said they were now receiving reports of flooding in Sunderland, South Tyneside, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland.
And the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) had 19 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts in place throughout Scotland.
Flood warnings have been issued for Caithness and Sutherland, Easter Ross, Tayside, Central Scotland, Fife, Edinburgh and the Lothians, and the Borders.
Earlier in the day, Scotland’s entire rail network was closed because of safety fears.
Several routes have now resumed including the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line, which was blocked by a 20ft tree at Lenzie.
Aberdeen Coastguard said local teams have been called out to rescue people trapped by flooding on the Moray coast.
Ten people were helped from a bus in Buckie and two people were rescued from a car in Gardenstown when waves began washing over it in Harbour Road. No-one was injured.
At the height of the storm, around 130,000 homes were left without power, the majority of which are in the Highlands.
Gusts of 93mph hit Altnaharra in Sutherland, at the far north of Scotland, and wind speeds of 106mph were recorded in Glen Ogle in the Crianlarich area.
Drivers were warned to stay at home because of widespread closures, fallen trees, minor accidents and flash flooding on the road network.
First Minister Alex Salmond praised the work of the emergency services in responding to the severe weather, just days after they dealt with a major incident in Glasgow, when a police helicopter crashed into a pub killing nine people.
“In light of the tragedy at the Clutha bar, we’ve had very good reason, all of us, to pay tribute to the outstanding work of our emergency services,” he said.
“I can reassure the chamber that that work is on again today as we respond to the ongoing emergency of the weather conditions.”
http://news.sky.com/story/1178035/weather-two-dead-and-thousands-evacuated
Redheugh Bridge Closed After Lorry Blown Over – Connecting Newcastle And Gateshead
A major bridge connection Newcastle and Gateshead has been closed for the rest of the day after a lorry was blown over during strong winds
A lorry was blown onto its side blocking a busy bridge connecting Newcastle and Gateshead during morning rush hour.
The HGV toppled over on the Redheugh Bridge shortly before 9.30am this morning causing massive delays for motorists making their way to work.
Traffic was at a standstill between A695 Railway Street/ A189 St James Boulevard and Ord Street and A184 Askew Road and Askew Road West while diversions were put in place.
Emergency services attended the scene but there have been no reports of any serious injuries.
The bridge, which is often affected by high winds, is expected to remain closed for the rest of the day.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “At 9.20am this morning police were informed a lorry was on its side on the Redheugh Bridge, in Gateshead.”
She added: “There are not believed to be any serious injuries at this time. Officers expect the Redheugh Bridge to remain closed for the rest of the day. Motorists are advised to find alternative routes.
Traffic continues to be queueing on all surrounding routes. Most traffic is using the Tyne Bridge as an alternative, which is making it very congested.
Twin Volcanoes Eruption In The Pacific, Vanuatu
Steam and ash stream from the twin volcanoes on the island of Ambrym in the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, as seen in a picture captured from the International Space Station as it passed overhead. “Not every day you get to see an active volcano, let alone two,” NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins tweeted on Monday.
Ambrym is literally one of the hotspots for volcano tourists, but it has been known to turn deadly in the past.
MAGNITUDE 5.1 – TONGA
Subject To Change
Depth: 52 km
Distances: 272 km SW of Apia, Samoa / pop: 40,407 / local time: 19:44:38.3 2013-12-04
247 km S of Gataivai, Samoa / pop: 1,141 / local time: 19:44:38.3 2013-12-04
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