[KnowItAll]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapc...ake/index.html

The world's most powerful earthquake in more than 50 years triggered massive tidal waves that slammed into villages and seaside resorts across Asia on Sunday, killing thousands across five countries.

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.

Over 1,500 people in Sri Lanka were killed after tidal waves devastated the country's eastern coast, according to Colombo police.

Officials in the eastern district of Batticaloa reported 1,032 fatalities there. In Trincomalee, there were reports of 320 deaths. Further south in popular tourist resort of Galle, there were around 200 deaths, according to police and hospital sources.

Several districts in the south have still not reported, and authorities fear the death toll could rise. The tidal waves also swept away a high security prison in Matara, in southern Sri Lanka, allowing 200 prisoners to escape.

Eyewitnesses in eastern Sri Lankan port city of Tricomalee reported waves as high as 40 feet, hitting inland as far as half a mile.

India's Interior Minister Shivraj Patil said at least 1,000 Indians were killed as a result of the massive waves. A resident of Madras in Tamil Nadu district -- one of the hardest hit areas -- said he witnessed several people being swept away by a tidal wave there.

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.

Closer to the epicenter, some 250 people were killed in Indonesia -- most of them in Aceh, in northern Sumatra, according to journalist John Aglionby in Jakarta.

The earthquake is classified as "great" -- the strongest possible classification given by the NEIC.

Blakeman said all of the tsunamis were triggered by the initial quake, and not the nine aftershocks.

One major aftershock, measuring 7.3 in magnitude, struck about 200 miles (300 km) northwest of Banda Aceh -- on Sumatra's northernmost tip -- over four hours after the initial quake, according to the NEIC. The rest of the aftershocks measured under 6.1 in magnitude.

The NEIC expects the quake to produce hundreds of smaller aftershocks, under 4.6 magnitude, and thousands smaller than that.

"A quake of this size has some pretty serious effects," he said.

He explained the quake was the energy released from "a very large rupture in the earth's crust" over 600 miles (1,000 km) long.

It was the strongest earthquake to hit since November 1952, when a 9.0 quake struck near Russia's remote Kuril Islands.

[shri]

For those of you who may have friends and family, vacationing in the affected parts of Asia


COUNTRY REPORTS

The Maldives

At least 120 people including two British tourists were reported dead or missing Monday. The nation’s only international airport on the tiny island of Hululle reopened early on Monday, officials said. Workers had pumped out water that inundated the runway, clearing the way for a stranded Sri Lankan Airlines aircraft to take off. With the death toll expected to rise, the entire island of Dhiffushi, a prime tourist destination, was submerged and would have to be rebuilt from scratch, officials and residents said. In nearby Thulusdhoo island there was no electricity and food, officials said. Mohammed Sunan, an agent at Happy Travel & Tours, predicted it would take months for the industry to recover. He said at least four or five of the Maldives’s roughly 80 resorts had been inundated with water, causing extensive damage

Thailand

- Phuket

Areas affected stretch along Bang Tao Beach, Kamala Beach, Patong Beach, Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Nai Harn Beach and Phuket Fantasea. The Governor of Phuket, Udomsak Asvarangkul, declared a state of emergency as waves pounded the western coast of the island in succession resulting in the sudden inundation of coastal areas, injuries and loss of life, capsized boats and vessels lost at sea. On the eastern coast of Phuket island, giant waves washed over Rassada Pier as passengers were waiting to board ferries for Phi Phi Island.
More news: http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/

Laguna Phuket press statement:
Laguna Phuket was spared the more serious damage reported from other areas of the island as it was protected from a direct hit by the headland to its South. Nevertheless, a wave surge swept the beaches and inundated the ground floor rooms and some of the resort’s restaurants. Casualties were light and damage to property will be repaired as soon as possible. The beaches and lagoons will be cleared of debris and returned to full operation by December 28. Of the five hotels at Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket and Allamanda Laguna Phuket were unscathed apart from damage to a small beach restaurant operated by Banyan Tree. The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket now has only six rooms out of order, and Laguna Beach Resort, 14. The Dusit Laguna Resort suffered the worst and is working to repair 30 beachfront rooms flooded in the tsunami’s wake.

- Krabi

Minor damage to Ao Nang Villa and Phra Nang Inn. Severe damage and significant losses at Krabi Resort.

- Koh Lanta

Significant losses incurred; three-star bungalows suffered the greatest damage.

- Phi Phi

Total destruction of resort properties and infrastructure on the islands. All operations have ceased.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is updating reports on its website - www.mfa.go.th.

Sri Lanka

The worst-hit area of the island was the southeastern coastline, a densely populated area with villages nestling against ocean. Many of them have been wiped off the map. In Galle, the scene is one of total catastrophe. Virtually the whole of the seafront was obliterated and not a single building within 100 metres of the waterfront was undamaged. “What is most important is food, clean water and shelter,” said Roland Schilling, senior programme officer for the UN High Commission for Refugees in Colombo. Police said almost all tourist resorts are flooded. “The destruction is widespread along the coast and we fear for many people who were along the beach at the time,” Prime Minister Rajapakse told AFP. Leader of the opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe said the disaster had severely affected the country’s economy with the tourism and hotel sectors facing the brunt, especially in the southern regions.

Malaysia

- Langkawi resort reports

The Datai: "The resort was not badly affected by the tidal waves. The only affected area is the beach. Clearing up the beach is in progress and expect to be cleared within two days. Other hotel facilities in good condition."

Berjaya Beach Resort: "The beach and sea sports facilities are affected with mud and debris washed up all over the beach area. No sea sports facilities available for three weeks starting today."

Pelangi Beach Resort: "One of the most badly affected. Mud, debris and sea water rushed through the resorts compound including the swimming pool. The front row chalet facing the sea was badly affected. The resort has no electricity, water supply and air-con system is also out of service."

- Penang resort reports

“All our hotel guests are safe and accounted for as we are on higher ground.” – Mr. Lau Cheong Leong, Ferringhi Beach Hotel

“As our hotel is located on a cliff, we faced minimal damage. All roads leading to Tanjung Bunga and Batu Ferringhi are already open and ferry services are back to normal since last night.” - Mr. Joseph Kong, Copthorne Orchid Penang, Tanjung Bunga

“The impact of the tidal wave was minimal. No collateral damage, no injuries and everyone is in high spirits and we have no cancellation thus far.” - Mr. Leo Kuscher, Mutiara Beach Resort

“We were cautioned by watersport operators of the strong wave at 1.15 pm and we immediately sounded the alarm to our guests at the beach who evacuated the area and thus there were no casualties.” - Mr. B.C. Tan, Casuarina Beach Resort


Seychelles

- Praslin Island resort reports

La Reserve: "All rooms have been flooded and are full of dead fish and sand. There are no computers, or fax machines operational. The kitchen , restuarant and main buildings have been affected including all furnishings, and food stores. The hotel is now closed, and clients have been reallocated to other hotels on the island."

Paradise Sun: "Closed, and all new bookings will have to be reallocated."

Acajou: "No damage reported. The sea level did not reach the rooms or main hotel structures. The pool bar has temporarily been closed for clean up of sand and debris which had been swept up by the waves."

New Emerald Cove: "The hotel did not have any affects from the tidal waves, expect for their floating jetty which had been dislodged and swept away. Looking to have this repaired in the next few days."

Cafes des Arts: "Beach rooms flooded, clients have been relocated to Le Duc. Clients who will be arriving today, will be reallocated to other hotels."

Cote D’Or Lodge: "Hotel has been closed completely, due to the tides having affected the rooms as well as the main building. The clients have been relocated to other hotels on the island."

Palm Beach: "The hotel has been flooded, but there has been no structural damage. All the rooms on the ground floor have been flooded. Clients have been reallocated to the upper rooms and a makeshift restaurant has been prepared on the upper floor."

Beach Villa & Amite: "Beach Villa has been affected by the waves, with majority of all the rooms flooded. Clients have been moved to stay in the owners home. They are in the process of cleaning the hotel. The Amite Chalets have not been so greatly affected.

Villa de Mer: "The tides have affected the beach restaurant. They have now moved the restaurant into part of the reception. The rooms are intact and have not been affected. General cleaning on the beach restaurant and garden areas is taking place.

No damage to: Berjaya Praslin Beach, Les Villa D’Or, L'Archipel, La Vanille, Coco de Mer, Indian Ocean Lodge, Lemuria Resort, Le Tropic Villa, Maison des Palmes, Marechiaro.

Other islands including La Digue Bird Island, Denis Island, Alphonse & Desroches, have not experienced any damages and are operating as normal.

[kombuchakid]

Michael Crichton’s new thriller,

State of Fear,">State of Fear," /> State of Fear,">State of Fear,
State of Fear,">State of Fear, cover" /> State of Fear,

is about eco-terrorists who plot a series of natural disasters -- earthquakes, underwater landslides, a tsunami - to prove that global warming is a threat to humanity. A ragtag band of scientists and lawyers uncovers the scheme.

At the end of the book the author sets out a five-page summary of his take on global warming, plus a 14-page bibliography of works supporting his views. Here are just a few of the points he makes in that summary, emphasizing his own uncertainty as well as general ignorance:

• Atmospheric carbon is increasing, and human activity is the probable cause.

• We are also in the middle of a natural warming trend that began about 1850 as we emerged from a four-hundred-year old cold spell known as the "Little Ice Age."

• Nobody knows how much the present warming trend might be a natural phenomenon.

• Nobody knows how much of the present warming trend might be man-made.

• Nobody knows how much warming will occur in the next century.

• I suspect that part of the observed surface warming will ultimately be attributable to human activity. I suspect that the principal human effect will come from land use, and that the atmospheric component will be minor.

• There are many reasons to shift away from fossil fuels, and we will do so in the next century without legislation, financial incentives, carbon-conservation programs, or the interminable yammering of fearmongers.

• I suspect the people of 2100 will be richer than we are, consume more energy, have smaller global population, and enjoy more wilderness than we have today. I don’t think we have to worry about them.

The Copenhagen Consensus took the view that since we do not have infinite resources to spend on everything worthwhile, we should prioritize those where we can do more good more effectively. They identified such areas as HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, subsidies & trade liberalization, malaria, new agricultural technology, and water & sanitation projects. At sixteenth, under 'bad projects' came the Kyoto Protocol. In view of the good which could be achieved elsewhere with the money, it seems extraordinary that so much of it is being expended for such feeble results

[kostas]

I read about the CC in the Newsweek magazine a week ago.. Here is the online version of the article.. Their argument makes perfect sense to me.

[HKFella]

Originally Posted by shri

For those of you who may have friends and family, vacationing in the affected parts of Asia....

Thanks for the update, KIA. Until 3 days before disaster struck we - kids and inlaws included - had been enjoying a week's quality vacation in what was then sunny and tranquil Phuket (stayed at Allamanda, mentioned in Laguna statement quoted by you - not damaged though at Bangtao). Who could imagine!

It's absolutely heart-rending to see the pictures of devastation among the places and people we were so recently among. The loss of life stats for Thailand are surely being understated, when you see the horrific stories and numbers being reported from Sri Lanka, India/Andaman & Nicobar, and Aceh, etc. even given differences in population densities.

Fate was very kind to us, but needless to say the shine has quickly gone from the memories and images of our vacation, on learning about all the suffering.

HKF

[shri]

HKF, Good to hear you're back. Unfortunately had the wrong phone number for you and the SMS did not go through.

[kombuchakid]

An interesting situation, tragic actually, is slowly emerging from the tsunami disaster that has left several thousands dead along the southern coastline and many more orphaned. Keen to grab the Rs two lakh relief announced by the State and Central Governments, relatives are battling one another for custody of orphans and in some instances have even split up the already traumatized siblings.

Take the case of little Jayashree housed at a relief camp in a marriage hall in this town that has seen the worst in the Sunday calamity. Dressed in a crumbled pink dress that she had picked up from a pile of used clothes gifted by philanthropists, the three-year-old girl from nearby Akkarapettai fishing hamlet keeps mumbling for her siblings, sister Nithya, 6 and brother Gunasekaran,10. “Her maternal grandmother is patient when there are visitors around and snarls at the kid when nobody is watching,” says Valli, also an Akkarapettai refugee. She revealed that the maternal granny had grabbed Jayashree while the paternal granny picked up Nithya and Gunasekaran.

Now both the grannies are looking forward to the Rs one lakh cash relief promised by the State and another Rs one lakh pledged by the Centre as the grieving survivors of the kids’ parents. Besides, there could be other doles of varying sizes and shapes from the governments and voluntary relief agencies. Ask Jayashree about her parents and she would at once reply, rolling her large eyes, “Kizhakku poyirukkaanga”-they have gone east, which in her village of some 5000 fishermen families means going to the beach to trade in fish brought by fishing boats. “This child does not know that her parents were swept away by the giant waves that hit our hamlet that morning. She cannot even understand if we explain, so we have comforted her saying they have gone kizhakku”, says Valli.

It was around eight that Sunday morning and Jaya-shree was playing with her siblings inside the thatched hut, when suddenly people started running out of their homes, screaming, “Odu, odu, thanni varuthu.” (run, run, water is coming). There was a stampede as men, women and kids ran towards the safety of the bridge that connected the hamlet to the Nagapattinam town.

Many women and kids could not make it in time as the giant waves caught up with them. Some kind neighbours picked up the three kids and helped them reach the bridge. Their parents could not make it. Future seems hard and uncertain for the kids who survived, say relief workers. The story of Jayashree is repeated almost in every relief centre across the Tamil Nadu shoreline. “We are worried about the plight of these kids as we find in most cases, their relatives have staked claim over them only with an eye on the relief money from the government.

It is true that the government has decided not to release the money to the relatives but then, we are not yet sure how to go about this job,” says a State official working at the Karupoor relief camp near Thiruvarur. “Once they get their hands on the relief money, these relatives will dump the orphan kids on the road and we will then have to step in to provide long-term care,” he says grimly, adding that some lucky ones among the little orphans were picked up by voluntary organisations having the benefit of trained nurses and counselors to help them come out of the tsunami nightmare.

from the Deccan Chronicle 2/1/05

[kombuchakid]

The Indian Ocean Tsunami tragedy might well generate more interest in a similar catastrophe which took place on November 1st 250 years ago with the Great Earthquake at Lisbon. The event had a profound effect on the age, causing people to re-examine their philosophies and belief-systems. The scenes and stories of terrible suffering jolted the sometimes optimistic complacency of the times.