Boeing's 787 Dreamliner grounded - Deliveries

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner grounded

Entire 50-strong global fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including six of Air India, were grounded as US regulator FAA asked airlines to cease operations of these planes temporarily

 

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner, owned by Qatar Airways, performs a display flight at the Farnborough Airshow 2012 in southern England July 10, 2012.

 

The Air India's Dreamliner Boeing 787 is given a traditional water cannon salute by the fire tenders upon its arrival at the airport in New Delhi September 8, 2012. Air India took delivery of its first Boeing 787 commercial wide body airplane on Thursday at Boeing Co's final assembly plant after a months-long dispute between airline and manufacturer over compensation for a four-year production delay. Air India's Dreamliner is equipped with 18 business class seats and 238 economy class seats.

A Japan Airlines' (JAL) Boeing Co's 787 plane is seen at New Tokyo international airport in Narita, east of Tokyo Janauary 9, 2013. Boeing Co's 787 Dreamliner jet on Tuesday suffered its second mishap in two days, with the same airline and at the same U.S. airport - the latest in a series of setbacks that have heightened safety concerns over the new aircraft. A fuel leak forced a 787 operated by Japan Airlines, similar to the one pictured, to cancel takeoff at Boston's Logan International Airport, a day after an electrical fire on another 787 after a JAL flight to Boston from Tokyo.

Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner aircraft stands on the tarmac at Manchester Airport in Manchester, northern England April 24, 2012.

The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner sits on the assembly line at the company's Everett, Washington plant, May 19, 2008.

An air stewardess for Qatar Airways poses in the economy class cabin of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the Farnborough Airshow 2012 in southern England July 10, 2012.

People view the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane in Long Beach, California March 14, 2012.

A scale model of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner sits on a table in front of an actual aircraft during the 787's certification event at Paine Field, Everett, Washington on August 26, 2011. Administrators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) presented Boeing executives with their certification letters of the 787 Dreamliner at the event. All-Nippon Airways (ANA) of Japan is scheduled to be the first airline to receive the first production line 787 Dreamliner.

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft (top) lands for delivery to All Nippon Airways (ANA) of Japan at Haneda airport in Tokyo September 28, 2011. The Dreamliner will go into service for Japan's All Nippon Airways on October 26.

Final assembly takes place on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger planes at the company's Everett, Washington plant, April 30, 2009. The first 787 Dreamliner is scheduled for its first test flight in June.

Global Temperatures Continue to Rise – Global Warming

Global Temperatures Continue to Rise – Global Warming

This week, scientists at NASA released their global climate analysis for 2012 which revealed that Earth continues to experience warmer temperatures than several decades ago. The past year was the ninth warmest year on record since 1880, continuing what appears to be a long-term global trend of rising temperatures. The ten warmest years in the 132-year record have all occurred since 1998, and the last year that was cooler than average was 1976. The hottest years on record were 2010 and 2005.

The analysis was done by NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) which monitors global surface temperatures on an ongoing basis, comparing temperatures around the globe to the average global temperature from the mid-20th century.

In 2012, the average temperature was about 14.6 degrees Celsius (58.3 degrees Fahrenheit). This is .55 degrees C (1.0 degree F) warmer than the mid-20th century baseline, with the global average temperature having risen about 0.8 degrees C (1.4 degrees F) since 1880. The majority of that change has occurred in the past forty years.

Additionally, last week the US National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) released their latest climate report from 2012 and found that it was the warmest year ever recorded in the contiguous United States. The average temperature for the contiguous United States for 2012 was 13 degrees C (55.3 degrees F) which was 3.2°F above the 20th century average.

The data was gather by NASA GISS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center, the Japanese Meteorological Agency, and the Met Office Hadley Centre in the United Kingdom. All four institutions tally temperature data from stations around the world and make independent judgments about whether the year was warm or cool compared to other years. Though there are minor variations from year to year, all four records show peaks and valleys in sync with each other. All show rapid warming in the past few decades, and all show the last decade as the warmest.

Scientists emphasize that weather patterns cause fluctuations in average temperatures from year to year, but the continued increase in greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere assures that there will be a long-term rise in global temperatures. Each individual year will not necessarily be warmer than the previous year, but scientists expect each decade to be warmer than the previous decade.

“One more year of numbers isn’t in itself significant,” GISS climatologist Gavin Schmidt said. “What matters is this decade is warmer than the last decade, and that decade was warmer than the decade before. The planet is warming. The reason it’s warming is because we are pumping increasing amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.”

Top 10 Latest Cars That You Wish You Owned

Most people can appreciate a finely-tuned car zipping down the street. There is nothing more American than a car with 500 horses under the hood combined with a slick design. Even though many people are opting for smaller cars with better gas mileage, there are still cars that you yearn to own. Here are 10 that you secretly want the most.

1. Chevrolet Camaro

 

Chevy has been a classic brand for a long time. The Camaro has been one of its signature models. The newest Camaro, the Camaro ZL1, is being projected to be a collectable American car within a few years. While it has a sticker price of over $50,000, it also sports a V8 engine that carries 580 horses under its hood. That’s cool no matter what anybody says.

2. Ford Mustang

 

The Ford Mustang is another classic car that Americans have driven for decades. In fact, it may be the most universally revered car model in America. There are very few people who wouldn’t want to drive the Mustang if they had the chance. Ford is introducing the Mustang Boss 302 Leguna Seca as the latest incarnation of the Mustang. Any car that has boss in the name has to be cool.

 

 

3. Porsche 911

 

When you think expensive cars, you think Porsche. It is the one model that you can mention and everyone knows what you are talking about. The Porsche 911 is a car that will turn heads. Unlike a lot of these other cars, it will also hold its value. Not a bad deal.

 

 

4. Dodge Charger SRT

 

While you might wonder why the grille looks like a large-mouth bass, the rest of the car is a sight to behold. It has a touch screen dashboard as well as 470 horses. You can ignore the looks when it has an engine like that with cool new features to boot.

 

 

5. Bugatti Veyron

 

You will get your money’s worth when you purchase this car. It certainly looks like something that came from the future. Drivers won’t have to worry about getting into an accident. You can be sure that all eyes will be on you on the highway.

 

 

6. Lamborghini Aventador

 

 

Do you have $376,000 to spend? If you do, this is the car for you. It boasts a V12 engine as well as 700 horses. The only downside is that you only get 11 miles to the gallon. However, if you can afford the car, you can probably pay for gas without a problem.

 

7. Jaguar E Type

 

Classic car lovers are probably wishing that they could own this vehicle. While it hasn’t been made since 1974, it is still one of the more popular high-end cars on the market. What makes it unique is that 70,000 units were produced.

8. Pagani Huayra

 

 

This is closer to a jet than a car. While it boasts the same 700 horses that the Aventdor does, it places the air intakes valves are right by the driver. This is how old jet planes were designed. Made from carbon-fiber, it is also quite light and has great performance.

9. Hyundai Genesis

 

Purchase the quality of Lexus for the price of a Hyundai. You get all the features that you want from a luxury car while getting the safety and reliability of a Hyundai. When you are going for your Maryland state inspection, you will be happy that you chose a Hyundai.

 

 

10. Honda Civic

 

It isn’t a flashy car by any means. However, it is a reliable car that will last for a long time. Combined with its resale value, you will be happy with your selection. Considering it is one of the best selling cars in America, you will have a lot of company. If something brakes, you know it won’t cost you several thousand dollars for even a simple repair. Those who are driving a luxury car will wish that they had your car when they get the repair bill.

 

 

The key to driving is to be happy with what you have. There is no need to spend over $20,000 for a car. Increased performance or a stylish look can be achieved for far less than what many auto makers are charging you.

News Tamil Nadu Board 12th/HSC Results 2012

News Tamil Nadu Board 12th/HSC Results 2012

Tamil Nadu Board will be Declared TN +2/HSC Examination Results 2012 Expected on 22nd May 2012 at 11:00 Hrs on it’s Official Main Portal Site www.tnresults.nic.in.

There were Many students attended this Examination and Tamil Nadu HSC +2 Examination 2012 was conducted successfully on during March-2012 by Directorate of Government Tamil Nadu Education Examinations Board. and Students are very Concerns to see their TN HSC +2 Results 2012 and it is Natural.

There were more than 8 lacs students appeared Into this Tamil Nadu HSC Exam 2012 and those students are very anxious to check their Results and students are advised to check their results earlier because when results will published by official and many students will be going to check their results at a time of declaration and then Official site may be load very much.

Candidates can be check their Tamil Nadu(TN) Board HSC Results 2012 from following given below links, we wish all students of HSC best of luck and you can provide many information regarding Tamil Nadu 12th/HSC Examination Results here. and so keep visiting here for More News about Recruitment and Results

http://tnresults.nic.in

http://www.dge1.tn.nic.in

http://www.dge2.tn.nic.in

Jayalalithaa quotes Marx to certify work|India News

Jayalalithaa quotes Marx to certify work|India News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's new-found admiration for Karl Marx has stumped many in the state.

But that doesn't mean she is converting to socialism or aligning with the Left. Her appreciation was restricted to quoting Marx to certify that her government was moving on the right track.

"When ideas capture the minds of men, they become a material force in society," the AIADMK supremo said while recalling Marx at the inauguration of German automobile giant Dailmer's plant on the outskirts of Chennai, built at a cost of Rs.4,000 crore.

Taking credit for setting up the plant, Jayalalithaa claimed Dailmer had scaled up investment by Rs.1,000 crore, attracted by her government's package for industrial growth

Live Photo Blog: Mumbai v Delhi, Match 19|Cricket

Live Photo Blog: Mumbai v Delhi, Match 19|Cricket

Bad day at the office for Mumbai batsmen. They have been rolled over for 92 runs in 19.2 overs--this is their lowest-ever score in IPL. Fantastic bowling display from Delhi. All bowlers, apart from Irfan, have picked up two wickets each. Mumbai never looked comfortable once they lost two early wickets to Nadeem. After the spinner's stellar display, the pacers took over and cleaned up the Mumbai line-up. Remember, no Malinga for Mumbai, so the task becomes much more tougher for the hosts.

Earlier, Ajit Agarkar finished off the Delhi innings on the second ball of the final over. It was a yorker which clattered into Ojha's stumps. Skipper Harbhajan fell for 33 to Morkel. And his knock remained the top-score in the batting card. It was a brave knock from Bhajji. He played some tremendous shots--the last of which was slapped to mid-wicket, it was beautifully timed.

Time to hand the blog to my colleague Skandan Sampath, who is a true Mumbai fan. I am sure he must be crushed after a disappointing batting display.

Chennai earthquake, Earthquake in Bangkok, Earthquake in India , Earthquake in south india, - Tsunami warning

Chennai earthquake, Earthquake in Bangkok, Earthquake in India , Earthquake in south india, - Tsunami warning

6:40 PM Small waves about half-a-metre high and within normal tide limits had already washed into the Campbell Bay area on the Great Nicobar island, the official said.

6:39 PM Six teams of National Disaster Response Force were also

kept in readiness at Chennai and an equal number moved to Hindon airport in the national capital.

6:12 PM Indonesia Disaster Agency says major quakes produced only small tsunami waves because of horizontal plate movement - Reuters

6:07 PM Indonesia's disaster agency says 1 metre tsunamis detected in Nias island off southern Sumatra and Meulaboh in Aceh - Reuters

6:00 PM Andaman update: Few thousand people were evacuated to higher ground. Kudankulam nuke plant is absolutely safe as it is 7.5 m above the coast - Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services.

5:59 PM Tsunami Watch Lifted For Thailand, Myanmar, Australia, Malaysia - US Monitoring Agency

5:52 PM Aftershocks measuring 5.4 hits Indonesia according to USGS. Kenya issues tsunami warning along Indian Ocean coastline after Indonesia quake - Reuters

5:50 PM All Indians staying in Thailand's Phuket island have been alerted by the Indian High Commission here following the massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude that hit waters off Indonesia triggering tsunami fears across the Indian Ocean nations.

5:49 Metro services in Kolkata were shut down for nearly 50 minutes as a precautionary measure. The services were suspended from 2.42 PM to 3.30 PM, Deputy General Manager (general) of Metro Railway, Pratyush Sinha said.

5:46 PM; Kerala: The dam sites and in the state were also under observation as there had been reports of waves having occurred in some of the reservoirs. People in various parts of Kerala, including the state capital and Kochi, experienced mild tremors in the wake of the Indonesian quake.

5:45 PM; Maharashtra: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said there was no tsunami threat in Mumbai. Talking to reporters, Chavan said an alert has been received from Hyderabad-based centre for National tsunami warning as a precaution - PTI

5:43 PM Aftershock measuring 5.4 hits Indonesia

5:37 PM The chief secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar administration, Shakti Sinha, said waves 30 cm high have been witnessed in the Campbell Bay which is closer to Indonesia. He said people there have been asked to come out of their houses as the tsunami alert is still on.

5:34 PM Home secretary RK Singh: We have asked for evacuation in South Andaman.

5:28 PM; PTI IAF sending two planes with 80 NDRF personnel and five tonnes of relief material to Port Blair: IAF sources.

5:22 PM CNN-IBN's Priyanka Gupta in Kolkata: Reports of another earthquake have triggered panic again. A Kolkata woman said: "We saw buildings being evacuated. Right now we are too scared to go back to the building."

Another woman in Kolkata woman: We're not going home for now. We don't know how long we should stay outside.

Priyanka: Lots of confusion among people here. Life was going back to normal in this city, but the second earthquake has made people more anxious.

5:21 PM Reuters: US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center doesn't expect "damage basin wide" across Indian Ocean

5:20 Reuters: Andaman and Nicobar Islands could see waves up to 3.9 metres high following Indonesian quakes - Disaster official

5:02 PM BBC eye witness in Kolkata: "There was a tremor felt by all of us working in the building," a man called Vincent in Kolkata told the BBC. "All just ran out of the building and people were asked not to use the elevator. There was a minute of chaos where all started ringing up to their family and asking about their well-being."

5:00 PM Eye witness in Banda Aceh: It wasn't the strongest quake I've felt," said 22-year-old Tuti Rahmi, while trying to reach her brother by phone from Banda Aceh, people around her crying and screaming as they poured from their homes. "But it seemed to last forever," she said, adding the ground shook for nearly four minutes.

4:54; Bangalore Hundreds of office workers in Bangalore left their buildings while the Chennai port closed down because of the danger of a tsunami, port officials said.

The quake was in roughly in the same area as the 2004 quake which was at a depth of 30 km along a fault line running under the Indian Ocean, off western Indonesia and up into the Bay of Bengal.

4:52 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has asked the district collectors and SP's of all coastal districts to be on alert and shift public to safer areas.

4:51 Reuters: Indonesia's port in Banda Aceh remained open after the 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck, while Chennai port shut due to a tsunami watch issued for the whole Indian Ocean, two port authority officials said.

4:47 PM PTI: Operations at Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) in Kalpakkam near continued to function normally, even as coastal areas in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh has been put on alert following a massive quake hitting Indonesia. "We were to halt operations following the Tsunami alert. But, after checking with authorities in Andamans, we continued with the operations at the plant," K Ramamurthy, Station Director, MAPS.

4:39 CNN-IBN's Palki: NDRS team on alert on the east coast of India. Phuket another area of worry where a lot of Indians are. Fishermen remain the biggest challenge for the Indian authorities.

Prof Sitaraman, Indian Institute of Science: All earthquakes of such magnitude do not trigger a tsunami, hence the low warning. If you look at the Pacific tsunami warnings, there are already alerts in Thailand, Sri Lanka and other countries. The movement of waves depends on the geology of the area. It may subside over a period of time. Aftershocks might happen. There is also no record of an earthquake in India. Now India has a tsunami warning system after 2004 and we must be on alert. People must remain on alert unless it is withdrawn by the government. Ignorance of people must be checked so that they behave in a safe manner. Lifts in high buildings should be avoided at all cost. People who have reached higher grounds should stay there for the night if possible. They must leave only after the government has withdrawn the alert.

4:34 PM USGS: Another earthquake in Indonesia of 8.2 on Richter scale off the west coast of Northern Sumatra.

4:31 PM Reuters reports a magnitude 8.6 earthquake off Indonesia coast at 6.2 miles depth quoting USGS

4:21 PTI: Govt evacuates some people from South Andaman as a precautionary measure: sources

4:20 Fresh tremors felt in South and East of India.

4:19 PMPTI: No cause for panic along India's coastline. Government is ready to deal with any eventuality: Union Home Secretary R K Singh.

4:18 Cabinet secretary to CNN-IBN: PM has issued instructions to take all preacuations. There is no need to panic, if fishermen are on high seas there is no need to panic.

Ajit Kumar Seth, Cabinet Secy: As per reports the quake has not created a Tsunami wave. Maximum wave height generated in Andaman Nicobar is 30 cm.

4:15 PM; CNN: Tsunami watch for the entire Indian ocean. 8.7 earthquake is a big deal, the likes of which we saw in Japan recently and back in 2004 in the same areas. Epicentre 431 kms away from Banda Aceh which is too close to the northern coast of Sumatra island. The tsunami must have reached that area by now.

4:14 PM: NDMA scales down the tsunami threat. No threat in Indian Ocean.

Kolkata Metro resumes services.

Meenakshi Mahadevan from Chennai: Some people reaching Marina Beach now. Sea doesn’t look threatening right now. Met sending constant alerts.

4:09 PM Prathibha from Chennai: Local channels reporting a tsunami likely to hit Chennai coast at 5 pm. Police clearing the area.

CNN-IBN's Palki: Reports that water receding along the coast of Phuket, which is a cause of worry.

In West Bengal: Tremors were also felt in North 24 Parganas adjoining Kolkata and in the north Bengal town of Siliguri, officials said. According to reports, some buildings on Park street in the metropolis developed cracks. Metro Rail services in the city were suspended from 2:42 PM and passengers were asked to vacate stations. Officials in the Seismological Centre here said the epicentre of the high intensity earthquake was on the west coast of northern Sumatra.

Response: Union Home Secretary R K Singh speaks to Chief Secretary of all coastal states. David Cameron tells Indonesian president he's "hugely concerned" by earthquake off Aceh and UK "stands ready to help". Tsunami "less likely" because earthquake off Indonesia moved horizontally, not vertically, USGS spokesman tells BBC.

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands: No waves noticed so far in Andaman and Nicobar Islands; tsunami virtually ruled out, says NDMA vice president Sasidhra Reddy.

Expert on Tsunami: One expert told the BBC the quake as a "strike-slip" fault, meaning a more horizontal shift of the ground under the sea as opposed to a sudden vertical shift, and less risk of a large displacement of water triggering a tsunami.

Alert for 28 countries: The Pacific tsunami warning centre has said that the tsunami alert for 28 countries remains in effect, and has also said that a 17cm wave is heading towards Aceh, which is not very large. However the speed of the wave is not yet known.

Celeb Tweets: Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt ?tweeted: "Pooja is in Phuket scouting locations for Jism 2. She just called saying that the Tsunami is about to hit Phuket. The Occean is receding."

4:08 PM; Dakshina from Thiruvananthapuram: Disaster management teams ready to face any eventuality. There is technology to get in touch with the fishermen. Means being tried to contact them at the earliest.

4:08 PM; Indian embassy in Bangkok: The Indian embassy in Bangkok is on high alert. Bangkok is a popular tourist destination for Indians. India issues tsunami warning for Nicobar islands.

4:05 PM; CNN-IBN's Priyanka Gupta from Kolkata: Substantial length of coast in WB. Official at Haldia confirmed the facilities on alert. Concern for fishermen already at sea. No way of knowing for those fishermen about the tsunami alert. Metro shut down, passengers evacuated. IT centre in Kolkata evacuated. Fishermen remain the biggest worry for the government.

4:04 PM; CNN-IBN's Dakshina Muraleedharan from Kerala: Immediate reaction of people was to run down from highrises and some panic. Coastal police trying to get in touch with fishermen to warn them of the tsunami. The memories of the 2004 tsunami still fresh in many people's minds in Kerala. The Met dept is telling people not to panic. Officials are busy asking people to be on alert and not panic. The government is gearing up for any eventuality.

4:02 PM; CNN-IBN's Prathibha Parameswaran from Chennai: No measures taken yet, except for the warning. Coastal TN on high alert but no evacuations so far. Earthquake lasted a few seconds. No property damage reported so far. People on the watch. Most fishing happens during mornings or evenings. A warning for safety measures has been issued.

4:01 PM; Low connectivity in Indonesia: Very low telephone connectivity in Indonesia. Almost no communication with people there. No damage due to earthquake, but the bigger worry is the tsunami now. High tsunami alert in Sri Lanka as well.

4:00 PM; RS Dattatrey, Director Siesmology, IMD: People should remain careful, especially in Kolkata and the eastern coastal areas of India. Tsunami may reach Indian coast in 30 minutes.

3:56; No casualty in Aceh: Indonesia's President says no reports of casualties or damage from quake in Aceh.

3:55 PM; In Bangladesh: In Bangladesh, where two tremors were felt, authorities also said there appeared to be no threat of a tsunami.

3:50 PM; In Sri Lanka: Wednesday's quake was also felt in Sri Lanka, where office workers in the capital, Colombo, fled their offices, and the southern Thai holiday island of Phuket, both of which were hit hard by the 2004 tsunami.

At 3:45 PM - Damage in Indonesia: Indonesia's disaster management agency said power was down in Aceh province and people were gathering on high ground as sirens warned of the danger. "The electricity is down, there are traffic jams to access higher ground. Sirens and Koran recitals from mosques are everywhere," said Sutopo, spokesman for the agency.

At 3:40 PM: Mumbai tremors: There were reports of tremors being felt in some parts of north Mumbai but the Met department said these could not be verified so far.

At 3:30 PM: An earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale was recorded in the Arabia Sea, the Met office said. The shock registered at 18.6 degree latitude and 71.3 degree longitude in the Arabian Sea," Met department director Rajeev Nair said. The epicentre was 155 km from Mumbai, he said.

At 2:40 PM: Coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman islands also put on alert following Sumatra quake.

At 2:34: US Geological Survey said the quake was centred 33 kilometres beneath the ocean floor around 495 kilometres from the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.

At 2:17 PM: Indonesia's geophysical agency says earthquake of 8.9 on Richter scale off Aceh, issues tsunami warning. Indian ocean-wide Tsunami watch in effect - Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre

Tsunami warning after earthquake hits off Indonesia|Timing & Picture

Tsunami warning after earthquake hits off Indonesia|Timing & Picture

 

1.00am Below, Acehnese attend to patients evacuated out of hospital buildings in capital Banda Aceh.

INDONESIA-QUAKE

Acehnese attend to patients evacuated out of hospital buildings in capital Banda Aceh after a powerful earthquake hit the western coast of Sumatra in Aceh province on April 11, 2012. A massive earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumatra island, US and Indonesian monitors reported, prompting an Indian Ocean-wide tsunami alert

 

12.35am Although there were no initial reports of casualties, pictures have begun emerging of damage caused by after the quakes. Below, onlookers inspect damaged walls at a prison in Aceh province in Indonesia.

tsunami

Onlookers inspect walls damaged by the earthquake at a prison in Aceh province in Indonesia.

 

12.24am In Phuket, Geelong man Peter Williamson, 30,  of the "total chaos" he encountered as tourists and locals ran from the beach to a nearby mountain.

"We were having a few drinks at a bar and people just started bolting down the street. One of my mates heard someone yell 'tsunami'. We bolted. Everyone was panicking at the start but once we got a fair way up the mountain everyone relaxed a bit."

12.10am Brisbane tourist Jodie Schafer (below), on holiday with boyfriend Anthony Ambrosio, has told of scenes of panic in Patong, Thailand.

She The Courier-Mail that about 3.45pm, people started running for the escalators.

"All of a sudden people started running in droves up stairs, escalators. People were pushing, shoving. We were asking what was happening, but the locals didn't say they just packed up their shops and fled. The other tourists were shouting that there was an earthquake and tsunami warning."

 

Jodie Schafer and Anthony Ambrosio in Thailand in Patong.

 

11.55pm Australian Steven Sewell, who runs a surfing charter business in Padang, West Sumatra, has told of experiencing the fear in the streets as residents sought safety.

"It lasted a very long time ... We headed to higher ground above the river for two hours then the second one (aftershock) hit. The second one was almost as long as the first one. Just prolonged shaking from side to side... Pretty scary when your pregnant wife's in the car."

11.48pm Guests at luxury seaside resorts in the Maldives have been evacuated from beaches and given life jackets until the tsunami alert was cancelled.

A spokesman for the Hilton Iru Fushi resort, where 420 guests were evacuated, told

We asked all our guests to gather on a building in the centre of the island. We also gave them life jackets as a precaution. Soon after, we learnt there was no tsunami threat.

11.43pm Indonesian and Sri Lankan authorities say residents are safe return to their homes after tsunami warnings were cancelled.

11.22pm Images from throughout the region highlight the impact of the earthquakes and tsunami fears. Below, in Indonesia, a woman cries out amid a scene of panic as residents of Banda Aceh evacuate. Picture: EPA

banda aceh

 

In the tourist area of Phuket, Thailand, tourists are shown on the roadside after being evacuated.

phuket

 

In Sri Lanka, coastline residents take refuge on higher ground at Dehiwala, a suburb of Colombo.

SRI LANKA-INDONESIA-QUAKE

Sri Lankan coastline residents take refuge on higher ground at Dehiwala, a suburb of Colombo, on April 11, 2012. Sri Lanka issued a tsunami warning across the tropical island April 11 and the disaster management centre asked coastal residents to move inland. A government statement said waves could hit the island's northeastern port district of Trincomalee and urged an orderly evacuation of the coastal strip. AFP PHOTO/ LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI

 

The tsunami alert spread as far as Pakistan. Below, people enjoying a camel ride on a beach in Karachi today appear unfazed.

pakistan

 

11.04pm The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has cancelled its warning of a possible tsunami.

"Sea level readings now indicate that the threat has diminished for most areas, therefore the tsunami watch issued by this center is now cancelled."

10.46pm The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has lifted a tsunami watch for most areas of the Indian Ocean. It remains in effect for Indonesia, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and the island territory of Diego Garcia. 

10.35pm India continues to run a nuclear power station but temporarily closed an east-coast port after authorities issued tsunami warnings, Dow Jones reports.

Nuclear Power Corp of India chairman S.K. Jain said the state-run company's plant in southern India was operating normally and that there were no immediate plans to shut operations.

An official at the Chennai port in southern India said operations at the facility were shut as a precaution following an advisory from the government.

The tsunami warnings also prompted software exporters Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and Cognizant Technology Solutions to temporarily evacuate staff from centres around Chennai, executives at these companies said separately.

10.30pm At least three tsunamis of up to 80cm have hit Indonesia's coast.

"Our tide gauges and buoys recorded small tsunamis," Said Kristiawan of Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said.

He said the highest, measuring 80cm, was in Meulaboh in western Aceh, and other smaller ones were recorded in nearby coastal regions.

All were recorded at 8.04pm (AEST), almost an hour and a half after the initial quake, he said.

10.26pm Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs says there have been no reports of any Australians being caught up in the disaster, but authorities are continuing to closely monitor the situation.

DFAT's latest update says Australian embassies bordering on the Indian Ocean region, including Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and Burma have contacted Australians registered in the region via email advising them to follow local authorities advice specific to their location.
The Australian Embassy in Jakarta is liaising with the Indonesian authorities about any potential damage to infrastructure and tourist areas. Only one report of building damage at this point.

for the Indian Ocean Earthquake and advises Australian citizens to follow the advice of the local authorities.

If you have any concerns for the welfare of family and friends in the region, you should first attempt to contact them directly. If you are unable to contact them and still hold concerns for their welfare, you should call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre of 1300 555 135 (option 6).

10.21pm Kenya is the latest country to issue a tsunami warning. Residents in coastal areas have been told to move away from beaches and ordered schools in the area to close, saying a tsunami might hit about 3am (AEST) (8pm local time).

"All fishermen and other people undertaking economic activities along the coastline ... among others, hoteliers, tour operators, water sports and curio shops, are advised to keep off the beaches immediately," Esther Murugi, minister for special programs said.

10.14pm Peter Coburn from the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre has told Sky News that small waves have already been recorded at Australia's Christmas and Cocos Islands.

He said very small waves were expected to hit the Western Australian coastline about 9.30-10pm (WST) (11.30pm-midnight AEST).

10.07pm This picture posted on Twitter by @kirstenmildren shows friends at the tourist resort of Krabi, Thailand, evacuated to higher ground. "Nice sunset at least".

thailand krabi

This picture posted on Twitter by @kirstenmildren shows friends at the tourist resort of Krabi, Thailand, evacuated to higher ground. "Nice sunset at least".

 

10.00pm More reports from coastal regions around the Indian Ocean are emerging. In Tamil Nadu in southern India, police cordoned off the beach and used loudspeakers to warn people to leave the area.

The quake was felt in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where many people in the city's commercial Motijheel district left their offices and homes in panic and ran into the streets. No damage or causalities were reported.

In Male, the capital of the Maldives, buildings were evacuated.

9.55pm A "minor tsunami" of 31cm has been reported at Sabang, on the coast of Indonesia.

Mok Hing-yim, senior scientific officer at the Hong Kong Observatory, described the tsunami as "not very significant".

"But we cannot ignore that there will be some higher tsunami along the coast of Indonesia. The reading indicated that a tsunami has been generated."

Geoscience Australia specialist Daniel Jaksa said "there's definitely tsunami signals reaching the Sumatran coast".

"Off the coast off Indonesia at the moment there's 50cm. Fifty centimetres can be quite dangerous. You only need about 20cm to lift up a car and make it move, so this is not insignificant." 

9.46pm A tsunami warning has been issued for France's Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

9.44pm There have been witness reports of huge waves surging on the Indonesian coast, Sky News reports.

9.42pm There's a report of a tsunami measuring 10cm hits Thai coast. "A 10cm tsunami wave generated by the first earthquake hit Koh Miang off Phang Nga," the director of Thailand's National Disaster Warning Centre, Somsak Khaosuwan, said on Thai television.

9.40pm A Thailand resort says its guest are on the roof of the building, while other resorts on the island of Phuket have reportedly been evacuated after an Indian Ocean-wide tsunami alert.

Serene Resort on Kata Beach, Phuket, says many Australians are staying at its 117 room establishment.

"They're on the roof, they're not worried," a spokeswoman told AAP.

9.24pm Images from Aceh show residents fleeing, hugging and praying in panic as the 8.6 earthquake hit.

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Acehnese women hug each other and pray shortly after the powerfull earthquake hit.

 

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Acehnese people try to go to higher ground after the earthquake.

 

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Acehnese people run after the earthquake hit western coast of Sumatra.

 

9.21pm Indonesia has issued a fresh tsunami warning in the wake of the 8.2 aftershock.

Harjadi, a local official who goes by only one name, said the new tsunami warning was for residents living along the western coast of the country.

It included Sumatra island and the Mentawai islands.

9.19pm An 8.2-magnitude aftershock has struck off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island, following a stronger quake that triggered an Indian Ocean-wide tsunami alert.

The US Geological Survey said the aftershock struck at 8.43pm (AEST), 615 km from Banda Aceh.

9.15pm Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the situation.

"Australians in the affected areas should monitor local news and radio and follow the advice of local authorities in the first instance," DFAT said in a travel bulletin tonight.

Australians who need assistance should contact their nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate, or call DFAT's Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305.

People concerned about Australian friends or relatives in the region should try to contact them first before calling the emergency centre.

9.05pm Images from Indonesian television after the quake show people fleeing on foot, by car and motorcycle in the minutes after the earthquake hit.

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In this image made from Indonesian television TV One, two women react on a street shortly after they ran out from a building when a strong earthquake hit in Aceh in Indonesia.

 

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Motorcycles and cars flee after a strong earthquake hit in Aceh, as seen on Indonesian television TV One.

 

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The scene on a street in Aceh, Indonesia shortly after a strong earthquake hit, as shown on Indonesian television TV One.

 

Indonesia Earthquake

A woman hugging a girl uses a mobile phone shortly after they ran out from a building when a strong earthquake.

 

8.58pm Roger Musson, a seismologist at the British geological survey who has studied Sumatra's fault lines, says the temblor was a strike-slip quake, not a thrust quake.

In a strike slip quake, the earth moves horizontally rather than vertically and doesn't displace large volumes of water.

"When I first saw this was an 8.7 near Sumatra, I was fearing the worst," he said, noting one of the initial reported magnitudes for the quake. "But as soon as I discovered what type of earthquake it was, then I felt a lot better."

8.53pm A geophysicist with the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, Victor Sardina, told AFP the tsunami was "not anywhere near" as large as the devastating tsunamis that struck Asia in 2004 and Japan last year.

He said the tsunami measured a mere 35cm near Padang, Indonesia, but could swell to as high as 1m near Sri Lanka, adding that US scientists were still carefully monitoring the situation.

8.48pm There has been no sign of the feared tsunami wave - which authorities feared would hit about 8.40pm (AEST), AP reports. Damage also appears to be minimal.