logo Sign In

Asian earth quake and Tidal Wave.

Author
Time
Earlier today there was an 8.9 earth quake that hit multiple countries around the Indian ocean. It was then followed by a Tidal Wave. According to the report I read, the death toll is over 10,000 so far and of course a lot of other damage was done. I just wanted to say my thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by this tragedy. I can scarcely imagine what they are going through.
Author
Time
Whoa. I've heared nothing of this.

*ditto to what warb and dayv said*

4

Author
Time
It's been upgraded to a 9.0. For those who want some sort of relative comparison... the San Francisco quake in 1989 during the World Series only measured a 7.1.

Two waves hit the city of Phuket. The first was a large splash up of water likened to a major ocean swell. The second was the big wave and it hit about two hours after the first one. I think the death toll is over 11,000 now.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
Author
Time
I don't know what new agencies you guys are getting your info from. Fox News and ABC radio have been reporting upwards of 22,000 dead all day.

The tsunami traveled an estimated 500 mph underwater, and was so far reaching that it hit and killed people in Africa.

The island of Sumatra has moved an estimated 100 ft (or 100 yards, I've heard both figures) from where it was before the quake.

My sister is freaked because she had a friend from college that went back to India for the winter break. She's emailed him, but not heard back yet.
Author
Time
The 11K came from The Today Show this morning. Of course, you've got to remember that there are conflicting reports and no real count will be available until they count the number of bodies and account for all those that should be there but cannot immediately be found.

The death toll is up at 22,700 as of just now. That's a big chunk of people.

Here's an article about it.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
Author
Time
The scariest part about this, to me at least...

When was the last time the San Andreas let off some tectonic stress? Scientists think that California is due to get hit really bad.
Granted its not a tsunami, but with all the millions of people living there...a quake of equal, or even somewhat lower magnitude is going to do a lot of damage.
Author
Time
How bad was that quake in SanFran back in the early 1900s? I think, more specifically, that it was around 1908.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
Author
Time
I remember seeing photos from that 1908 quake. Scary stuff.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

Author
Time
I remember reading that if this earthquake had hitten a populated area, instead of happening on the bottom of the ocean, there would be even more dead, but I doubt it, as it would concentrate it's destruction in one place, and this tsunami got to a lot of different places.

And the bizarre, bizarre, creepy part of it: there's this TV ad over here, I've seen it on... december 24th I think: there's this local tradition of jumping 7 waves on the beach on new years eve, and if you do so you'll get lucky for the rest of the year. So there was this life insurance ad which feature a happy couple jumping the waves, counting "one, two", while the narrator kept talking how theres no such thing as luck, and telling people to do a life insurance, and then when he ends his narration, the couple is about to jump the 7th wave, comes this huge CGI wave and takes them away, and they are shown on the ground, spitting water, and with fishes on them and stuff... Supposed to be comical, and it was I thought it was amusing, very funny, but I belive they had to pull the ad out of the air, now... Talk about bad timing!

Reminds me also of the last TV show I watched on the night of september 10, 2001: a discovery channel programm about the twin towers and how they would be able to survive strong winds and earthquakes, and were supposed to last for 5 more decades.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
Author
Time
I've heard of many instances of those "bad timing" sorts of things. I can't think of any offhand, but if I do, I'll post them.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
Author
Time
Another bad timing thing was related to a local fast food chain, it's very successful over here, and I belive they have restaurants in some other countries in latin america. It serves a pseudo-arab food, but with a fast food look into it. So, they were planning on opening their first restaurant on the united states, a fast food place that sells ARAB food, with all the arab temathics and stuff... on september 12th, 2001. Of course they decided not to, and eventually gave up going into america, they lost a lot of money.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
Author
Time
The lastest I heard puts the death toll at 55,000 and they said it could double. Can we even comprehend this kind of loss of life? truely a sad day
My heartfelt sympathies out to all who have lost loved ones in this disaster.
Author
Time
yeah what happened there really sucks. my guess is that therre will be as many as 100 000 once the final tolls are counted. The really sad thing is though that another 100 000 may die due to disease.

Author
Time
whoa... wait..

55 Thousand? I thought it was at 22. Geez... This is insane. That many people haven't died so fast in a very long time.

4

Author
Time
The Red Cross is predicting that the death toll will top 100K. Here's an article.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
Author
Time
Here's an interesting tidbit regarding the tidal waves... Jet Li Survives Tsunami.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
Author
Time
First it was Jackie Chan, who survied 9/11 (he was supposed to be filming there at that precise hour, but aparently wasn't able to). Now Jet Li survives the tsunami. I hop Samo Hong, Chow Yun-Fat and Stephen Chow have life insurance...
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
Author
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
whoa... wait..

55 Thousand? I thought it was at 22. Geez... This is insane. That many people haven't died so fast in a very long time.


the last time that 100 000 ppl died in a couple of days i think i was nagizaki and heroshima
Author
Time
I'm not sure, I'd have to confirm that, I don't remember the number of deads in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Counting those who died of radiation, yes that's about it I suppose.

I belive the record for deaths happened in a earthquake in China hundreds of years ago, with aprox. 800 thousand dead.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering