SE Asia Tsunami Disaster

[Ken]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/26/asia.quake/index.html

The initial quake, measuring 8.9 in magnitude, struck about 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island around 7 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center.

In southern Thailand, some 200 were killed on the island of Phiphi, between Thailand's coastal area and the resort island of Phuket, where at least 48 were killed, according to the deputy governor. One witness said Phuket's Laguna Beach resort area is "completely gone."

NEIC geophysicist Don Blakeman said there was also a report that an entire coastal village in Thailand was destroyed by a tsunami.

Colombo officials believe the death toll in Sri Lanka will rise over 2,000 after tidal waves devastated the country's eastern coast. So far, the confirmed death toll is over 1,500.

I feel so bad. My mom is from Thailand.

Last edited by Ken on Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Silja]

Oh my that's awful

[Paul]

Article here. :\

Beware of eathquakes, this one happened today >_<. 8.9 for strength

Crossed posted from Yukio's Bali thread

The 8.9 magnitude quake struck under the sea near Aceh in north Indonesia, generating a wall of water that sped across thousands of kilometres of sea.

At least 2,000 died in Sri Lanka and more than 1,000 were killed in India.

Casualty figures are rising throughout the region including in Thai tourist resorts, packed with holidaymakers.

At least 400 people died in Indonesia, but exact numbers for people killed, injured or missing in the countries hit, are hard to confirm.

Hundreds are still thought to be missing from coastal regions and, in Sri Lanka alone, officials say more than one million people have been affected.

DISASTER TOLL

Sri Lanka: 2,000 dead
India: 1,000 dead
Thailand: 156 dead
Indonesia: 400 dead
Malaysia: 17 dead

Source: Government officials

Severe flooding hit the low-lying Maldives islands in the Indian Ocean, more than 2,500km (1,500 miles) from the quake's epicentre.

Harrowing reports of people caught in the devastation and dramatic tales of escape from the waves are emerging from around the region.

A resident of Kakinada in India's southern Andra Pradesh province, P Ramanamurthy, said he saw fishermen clinging to upturned boats being swept out to sea.

"I was shocked to see innumerable fishing boats flying on the shoulder of the waves, going back and forth into the sea, as if made of paper," he told the Associated Press news agency.

Last edited by Paul on Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Bangel]

Oi. My sister is on vacation in Cambodia this week... thank God this didn't stretch that far.

[Silentroar]

Your sister might have felt a little shaking though, no damage, just scary.

I live in Thailand but in Bangkok so I didn't feel it that bad. But it was still there. I woke up and stared at my water bottle. My mind was hazy so I didn't notce that the water in it was shaking violently. I went to the bathroom and my toilet bowl was splashing around. I realized what was happening and got really scared. I looked out at the Swimming pool and it was splashing too. The shaking kept on going for about 5 minutes.

There was no damage here in Bangkok but in PHuket and all the beaches in Southern Thailand where there were tsunamis, there are many people missing. Over 400 died. The Ferries just coming in from work still had passengers. Tehy were swept away. Fishermen, street vendors, swimmers, thai movie stars, The Prince of thailand's son, Five of my neighbors who went there for holiday are all missing!

I hope they survive.

Did anyone in Asia or Australia feel teh Quake? Please share If you did.

[tomatie]

I read in the newspaper that the quake could be felt all over the world. I didn't feel anything though.

I feel so sorry for all people who lost family and friends...

[Sock]

Oh my god...so many people died... Wow...

[Xil]

A very close friend of mine travelled to Sri Lanka for the Holidays I hope he's OK, along with the other thousands of people living in terible conditions at the moment.

:-/

[Igg]

It's awful.

I don't know anyone personally who would be affected by it, or could be. But I have friends who do and I am so worried for them.

[jellyoflight]

Oh dear

I read in the newspaper that the quake could be felt all over the world. I didn't feel anything though.

About a year ago there was a small earthquake in England a while ago.

I slept right through it and woke up with books and my clock on the floor. I was just like O.o Whaaaaa.l..

[Azzie]

Its getting worse. The dead count now is at 23 000 people. There will be more bodies washing up to the shores in the coming weeks. The thing is that it affected so many countries and caused devestation in them.



TOLL as @ 2049SST >>

Countries/Deaths/Injured

India/6,597/??

Indonesia/4,725/??

Malaysia/51/200

Myanmar/30/??

Sri Lanka/10,897/??

Thailand/866/5,000

Maldives/43/??

Bangladesh/2/??

Total/23,211/5,200

[on_diet_cat]

I am next to Malaysia. Did not felt anything shaking althought some people in my country did felt something.

I guess we were lucky, surrounded by Indonesia and Malaysia.

[Pokemon Kid]

I felt it too. Kept on shaking for like 3 minutes. T'was kind of faint though. I wish I had died instead of those people.

[ahoteinrun]

Thats the largest earthquake I can remember hearing about.
I was watching pictures on TV. The deathtoll... will continue to rise I am sure.
I would not be shocked if it reached 30000, if it has not already. (23000 apparently is what they're quoting on CNN)
There was no warning system apparently for the Tsunami according to the men on TV. Other then just waiting for them, because they can take quite awhile to hit the shore (they're quoting an hour or so to hit Sumatra).

[Keith]

Wow... That's really horrible... I don't know anyone personally affected by it, but I feel sorry for people this affected...