Tsunami update from Galapagos

Japan wasn't the only place affected by the recent tsunami. From the Galapagos Conservency, an update of the situation there.

The tsunami waves were far more intense than during last year’s tsunami alert. Wave amplitude at Santa Cruz was 1.77 meters (nearly 6 ft) and the arrival time of the tsunami waves coincided with the high tide. It proved a destructive mix. The waves at intervals of 26 minutes reached to 1.40m above the level of the Biomar pier. The CDF Marine Sciences (Biomar) building suffered considerable damage to its first floor installations which includes the laboratories. The waves completely destroyed a concrete pump house and broke massive wooden doors, flooding laboratories, workshops, and storage facilities, scattering furniture and equipment despite advance emergency preparation prior to evacuating the premises. Oxygen tanks and other equipment were widely scattered and found buried in sand and vegetation as far as 200m away [....] With regard to the flora and fauna, the impacts are being assessed. According to Galapagos National Park reports, some marine turtle nests at Garrapatero Beach on Santa Cruz were destroyed. We had significant damage to the vegetation along the shore of the Research Station. The marine iguana nests that we have been monitoring within the area around my home seem fine. We will be learning more in the next day or so on the full extent of the damage.

The Galapagos is home to many very endangered species, and we will watch the situation closely. To read the full article and keep track of the updates, click here.