Incredible tsunami catastrophe in Asia

[Haltickling]

I'm absolutely shocked about the dimensions of this catastrophe! So far, 23,000 casualties have been confirmed, but only about a third of the afflicted regions has been reached yet. That doesn't include the Andamans and Nikobars, where over 30,000 people are unaccounted for. Those islands rarely rise more than a few yards above sea level. The tsunami hit worst in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India. More than a thousand tourists are still missing.

Experts speak about the worst natural catastrophe in a century. A tsunami can reach more than 500 mph, which equals the speed of a passenger jet! The images from the holiday resorts are so depressing, I've been in many of them, and I know how much they used to resemble paradise.

[amk714]

And the earthquake that caused it was 9.0 in magnitude, the largest in 40 years! A terrible tragedy, there should be a tsunami warning system in place for that region of the world. I guess it takes something like this to spur governments to action. :mad:

[Prime]

sadly it usually does take something like this to wake a goverment up. I did hear in the news that they are contemplating a warning system now though. A little late for those effected now. Still hopefully it will help those in the future. My heart goes out to those who lost family members in those regions whether they were tourists or lived there.

The weather is doing crazy things folks..makes ya wonder huh?

[tommytikl]

About the earthquake

"The chain reaction that sent enormous, deadly tidal waves crashing into the coasts of Asia and Africa on Sunday started more than six miles beneath the ocean floor off the tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra..."


"...because such tidal waves rarely occur in the Indian Ocean, there is no system in place to warn coastal communities they are about to be hit, such as exists in the Pacific, Booth said."

"Enzo Boschi, the head of Italy's National Geophysics Institute, likened the quake's power to detonating a million atomic bombs the size of those dropped on Japan during World War II, and said the shaking was so powerful it even disturbed the Earth's rotation.

``All the planet is vibrating'' from the quake, he told Italian state radio. Other scientists said it was early too say whether the rotation was affected by the quake."

"...The earthquake occurred at a spot where the Indian Ocean plate is gradually being forced underneath Sumatra, which is part of the Eurasian plate, at about the speed at which a human fingernail grows, Booth explained."


Warning system:
"``With 20-20 vision of hindsight, that'll be reconsidered,'' he said. "


The full story is at Netscape.com:
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc
=NW_1-T&oldflok=FF-APO-PLS&idq=/ff/story/0001
/20041227/0714759370.htm

[the_Baron]

i am wondering if this is a further sign of the end times.

i know God promised not to eradicate the earth again by flood, but this isn't exactly a complete world flood per se.

alternatively, it could be Satan unleashed.

in either event, it is notable that the affected persons and areas were predominantly nonChristian enclaves.

go ahead......argue amongst yourselves at the ludicrous nature of these comments....but still, i wonder.

[Shem the Penman]

Originally posted by the_Baron
i am wondering if this is a further sign of the end times.

i know God promised not to eradicate the earth again by flood, but this isn't exactly a complete world flood per se.

alternatively, it could be Satan unleashed.

in either event, it is notable that the affected persons and areas were predominantly nonChristian enclaves.

go ahead......argue amongst yourselves at the ludicrous nature of these comments....but still, i wonder.

Hi, folks.

Do you find this post repulsive, horrifyingly callous, and just breathtaking in its sheer obtuseness?

Instead of wasting energy bitching, consider making a donation to the International Red Cross (http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/F136DCCB5929912F41256DFE003F6B7C?OpenDocument&Style=Custo_Final.3&View=defaultBody3) , Doctors Without Borders (https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?c=foIJKQMFF&b=89844&kntaw3112=8B972E9FF98F4795A13647EE067907A0) , the Salvation Army's Save the Children fund (https://secure.ga3.org/01/helpasia?stationpub=hp_radio_asia_earthq) , or any of the other charitable organizations listed in the article below:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Quake-Aid.html?oref=login&oref=login

It'll be much more productive.

[TklDuo-Ann]

Originally posted by the_Baron
go ahead......argue amongst yourselves at the ludicrous nature of these comments....but still, i wonder.

As a Christian, I can say with certainty that this is FAR from what we would expect from a loving God. Good and bad things happen to everyone.....not just those who don't believe as we do. God isn't as petty and self absorbed as we are...something for which I thank Him on a regular basis. Shem's suggestion is a good one. Instead of crying end times and all of that, we should do something to help. The end times began on the day He died. They will continue until His return. It's not our place to know....or to try to figure out....when that will be. It doesn't matter if we're living as we should.

Ann

[JPie1]

Originally posted by Shem the Penman
Hi, folks.

Do you find this post repulsive, horrifyingly callous, and just breathtaking in its sheer obtuseness?

Instead of wasting energy bitching, consider making a donation to the International Red Cross (http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/F136DCCB5929912F41256DFE003F6B7C?OpenDocument&Style=Custo_Final.3&View=defaultBody3) , Doctors Without Borders (https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?c=foIJKQMFF&b=89844&kntaw3112=8B972E9FF98F4795A13647EE067907A0) , the Salvation Army's Save the Children fund (https://secure.ga3.org/01/helpasia?stationpub=hp_radio_asia_earthq) , or any of the other charitable organizations listed in the article below:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Quake-Aid.html?oref=login&oref=login

It'll be much more productive.


Shem, my thoughts exactly! and for those of you who work for corporations like myself don't forget the matching contribution programs! No matter what you think there are many many innocent people AND CHILDREN caught up in this disaster!

[Haltickling]

Exactly, Shem, Ann and JPie. I pity such people who expect the Apocalypse any day, and their pseudo-religious tunnel view blocks them from seeing the real beauty of this world.

Meanwhile, the death toll rises hourly. Latest estimates range over 100,000, the biggest natural catastrophe in history. More than 2 mill people lost their homes and all their belongings.

More than 1000 German tourists are still missing, many of them will probably never be found because the sea dragged them out. According to eyewitnesses, the flood smashed everything up to the 3rd floor in Thailand. Cars and boats were washed away as far as a mile into the hinterland. All flags are flying at half-staff in Germany.

A tsunami warning system can only be effective in areas with a halfway decent infrastructure and communication like Japan or the US Pacific coast, but most of the south Asian states don't have that. Any warning would have been too late for Indonesia (probably more than 40,000 casualties) as the sea quake was too close. But it could have saved the lives of many people in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India.

A good suggestion would be to donate for the victims instead of buying fireworks for New Year's Eve. I live on welfare, but even I will donate a small sum, as much as I can afford.

[kis123]

The only mistake Baron made was to think out loud enough to put his thoughts in print. It does make me wonder if we are approaching the end. The countries involved are do not have a Christian majority-although I find that purely coincidental. He made a statement and everyone comes out of the woodwork to criticize him. He is within as much right to his statement as you all are to yours. Maybe his post would've been best suited for the politics and religion thread and maybe you wouldn't have gotten so offended. The timing wasn't exactly right, but I personally wonder (not panic or become obsessed) about these things everyday. I'm sorry for what has happened to these people in those countries, but the bible clearly addressed these issues thousands of years ago and many things are coming to pass just the way it said all around the world. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and does not wonder when these things happen is basically not reading their bible, because it's in there!

I do not have pseudo-religious tunnel vision either. If I did, I wouldn't be in this forum, would I???:sowrong:

Getting back to the spirit of this thread:

My thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families, and loved ones and hope to find survivors. I hope to scrape up some funds to send towards the cause.

[Bulldogge]

Folks, when considering making a donation, keep in mind that even the smallest amount helps. Just $5 to unicef will provide a medical kit for a family for three months. I made my donation this morning. It leaves me with $1.75 to my name until Friday, but those folks need it more than I do.

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

Originally posted by kis123
Anyone who claims to be a Christian and does not wonder when these things happen is basically not reading their bible, because it's in there!
Tsunami's? In the Bible? Do tell!

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/media/wolverton06.jpg

[kis123]

Originally posted by Dr. Bill Kobb
Tsunami's? In the Bible? Do tell!

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/media/wolverton06.jpg

Earthquakes and storms in divers places. If I have to find the quote, let me know. Try the book of Daniel or Revelations.

Hope I've answered your question.

[TKpervert]

Here's a link to some satellite images of the destruction.

Click on the picture and there are 9 frames to look at.

Frame #7 will help you understand why there were so many deaths.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6770108/

[ticklishscribe]

And I haven't heard from her and so I am going out of mind.

[kis123]

Originally posted by ticklishscribe
And I haven't heard from her and so I am going out of mind.

I hope you hear from your friend soon. My heart goes out to all of the victims and survivors and their families.

[Green String]

I just heard from my sister who lives in Thailand and she is alright. I'm still waiting to hear from a cousin who was visiting there at the time.

[Mitchell]

Green, Iam glad to hear that your sister is alright. I hope that your cousin is okay too. What a tradegy! My mom and I are planning to send some money to a couple of different charities to help the victims. They were saying on TV that if everyone helps just a little bit, say even 10 or 20 dollars a person, it can make a big difference in a country the size of the US. It was one of the worst and most tragic disasters I have ever heard of in my life!
Anyhow, when you get a chance, please check your Private Messages again. I left you another message in there. Take care, I hope your family is okay, and I hope to hear from you with a message soon.

All the best,
Mitch

[ticklishscribe]

That my friend was found dead. She saved my life once and on that I will think of her forever. She was always a giving person over herself.