What's wrong with this report?

[malaise]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/6-0-magnitude-earthquake/2618508.html
<snip>


WASHINGTON: A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda Saturday (Mar 19), US experts said, but caused no tsunami warning or immediate reports of damage or injury.

The strong quake, which hit at 1126 GMT, struck at a depth of 24 kilometers (15 miles) with its epicenter located 153 kilometers northeast of the capital of Saint John's, according to the US Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue and alert.

[jberryhill]

1. Nothing

Given that it is an Asian news website, whose readership may certainly understand the word "earthquake", but do not know where Antigua and Barbuda are, they included a note to their readers that there is no alert from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

One might imagine that when any number of Asian readers see "earthquake" in a headline, and if they didn't feel an earthquake, their next question is probably "is there a tsunami alert".

Granted, they could figure that out by looking up the Caribbean on a map, but why risk alarming readers who don't know where it is?

[malaise]

2. But that's the point

Nowhere in the Pacific could have been under any threat

http://www.tsunami-alarm-system.com/en/phenomenon-tsunami/occurrences-atlantic-ocean.html

[jberryhill]

3. So?

You only know that because you know where the Caribbean is, and where Antigua and Barbuda are.

It's an Asian news website. You can't expect your readers to have a grasp on geology or geographic, but they are pretty twitchy about the word "earthquake".

Tectonically, the "Caribbean Plate" edge includes the Pacific coast region of Central America and the northwestern part of South America:



So a quake on the Caribbean Plate can spawn Pacific tsunamis.

If you asked people in the US, which is a lot closer than Asia, where are Antigua and Barbuda, the vast majority would have no flipping idea.

But, yeah, it's an Asian news website, so they include a mention that there was no danger of a tsunami.

[malaise]

6. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue and alert.

Well had I written it I would have been an alert and I would have added that Antigua and Barbuda are in the Atlantic Caribbean.

[jberryhill]

8. I have written to the editors and suggested they hire you immediately.

All I ask is a 5% commission on the lucrative career you are about to begin with them.

[malaise]

9. Thanks but I pass n/t

[jberryhill]

12. After all I've done for you?

I have them beating down my door requesting to be put in contact with you, and this is what I get for thanks. Yeesh!

[malaise]

13. LOL

[annabanana]

4. I guess they're so injured and shook by what has happened over there

over the course of the last few years, that ANY report of an earthquake, and ANY possibility of a tsunami anywhere on Earth could be a trigger. It may have just been a kindness to the shellshocked.

[malaise]

7. Probably

Maybe I'm too focused on the location and distance

[annabanana]

11. .. as you should be.

So . . what are more local sources saying about it?

[malaise]

14. Haven't seen a local report

it was on radio here in Jamaica

[JHB]

5. I would figure a place named Channel NewsAsia would have a predominantly...

...Asian readership who would be particularly sensitive to tsunamis. Thus a line clarifying that the Pacific tsunami warning system gives an "all clear, doesn't affect us" is not entirely out of place.

[malaise]

10. I hear you all

Thanks