Taiwan spared from tsunami after Japan quake

Mar 11, 2011, 13:11 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan was spared Friday from a tsunami triggered by a magnitude-8.9 earthquake in Japan after a nervous President Ma Ying-jeou ordered the formation of a cabinet-level emergency centre to prepare for the tidal wave.

The Central Weather Bureau lifted the tsunami alert at 6:40 pm (1040 GMT) after measuring the waves reaching the island at up to 10 centimetres, a bureau official said.

Taiwan was among the Pacific islands and countries to be included in tsunami warnings by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.

After the lifting of the alert, Ma asked relevant authorities to remain cautious and communicate with Japan to see what kind of help Taiwan could provide.

Taiwan's Red Cross, which donated 100,000 US dollars to Japan, also said it was standing by to send rescue teams upon request by Japan.

Ma had cancelled all his engagements Friday after learning that Taiwan was included in the tsunami warnings, presidential spokesman Lo Chih-chiang said.

Lo said Ma ordered residents near the coast of northern and eastern Taiwan to evacuate. Fishing boats and vessels operating in waters in the region were also told to disperse.

At least five county governments suspended school classes and closed offices, officials said. Train services in the east and north-east were also suspended.

More than 1,000 passengers were stranded at Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei Sungshan Airport after airlines suspended flights to Tokyo because of airport closures there, airline officials said.

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