We express our condolences to the peoples of south-east Asia on the loss of so many lives in this horrific tragedy.
The AFP is saying that estimates of the death toll from the tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake off Indonesia yesterday, are expected to reach 45000. More than 1000000 people are homeless.
The USGS is reporting that the magnitude 9.0 quake ocurred 255 km SSE of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia on Sunday, December 26, 2004 at 7:58:49 AM local time.
Wikipedia already has an excellent article on the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
Arthur C. Clarke, the famous sci-fi writer who lives on hard-hit Sri Lanka, indicates on his website, that he is well:
I am enormously relieved that my family and household have escaped the ravages of the sea that suddenly invaded most parts of coastal Sri Lanka, leaving a trail of destruction.
But many others were not so fortunate. For hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans and an unknown number of foreign tourists, the day after Christmas turned out to be a living nightmare reminiscent of The Day After Tomorrow.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This was such a horrible event, and it’s so sad to see this kind of tragedy now striking Japan.
I can’t even imagine how you’d begin to pick up the pieces.
I hope there’s a big breakthrough in earthquake and tsunami forecasting soon.