Oceanperch, sure - will ping you to every quake I post if you want. On this one, I wasn't sure so I just pinged a few people who had been talking about Fiji troops who are headed to Iraq.
Oceanperch, you are right, there was a quake 5 minutes prior to this one. It happens in California, and they usually call it a foreshock. These quakes in the South Pacific are very deep quakes (several hundred miles deep) which is another big difference.
Both quakes, despite being five minutes apart are still listed on USGS and on NEIC, and both have been reviewed by seismologists. They are accurate as to size, time and location.
"These photos were taken near Puumaile, the hospital located at the end of the paved road in Keaukaha, of the inundation of coconut trees.
These photos demonstrate how tsunami waves can act like a wall of water advancing over land, rather than breaking surf. During the April 1, 1946 tsunami, Puumaile itself was spared; however, 90% of the homes along the Keaukaha coast were destroyed.
Unfortunately in January, 1947 raging waters flooded and wrecked areas of the hospital with trees, boulders, and other debris that had washed through the windows."
Valdivia Chile Earthquake and Tsunami 1960, Photo of Gulf of Coral
