Chile death toll rises, Tsunami expert says`We dodged a bullet'

Story Created: Feb 27, 2010 at 6:49 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 27, 2010 at 7:19 PM EST

HILO, Hawaii (AP) - A official at the Pacific Tsunami Warning
Center says Hawaii "dodged a bullet" after a major earthquake
sent powerful waves roiling around the Pacific.

It still will be about an hour before officials will be willing
to give an all-clear in Hawaii, but there were no immediate reports
of major damage around the Pacific rim. just tidal surges that
reached up to about seven feet in some island chains.

Gerard Fryer, a geophysist for the tsunami center, defended the
decision to urge evacuations of coastal areas, saying "better safe
than sorry."

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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