FED: Tas quake catalyst for South-East Asian disaster- expert

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2004
FED: Tas quake catalyst for South-East Asian disaster- expert

Seismologists say an undersea earthquake that caused mass destruction across southern
Asia yesterday was triggered by another quake off the coast of Tasmania last week.

At least 12,600 people are believed dead as a result of yesterday's earthquake and
tsunamis, which hit the coasts of Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and the Maldives,
measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale.

The quake had been preceded by a smaller - but unexpectedly large undersea quake -
measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale, which hit about 900km northwest off the Tasmanian
coast on Thursday.

Geoscience Australia duty seismologist Dr CVETAN SINADINOVSKI says the Tasmanian earthquake
caused an unbalanced situation on the other side of the tectonic plate, leading to the
huge natural disaster.

AAP RTV ajc/sh/as

KEYWORD: QUAKE ASIA TASMANIA (SYDNEY)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.