General Chat

5th largest earthquake since 1900.

http://news.bbc.*co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4125481.stm "Hundreds of people have been killed across south and east Asia in massive sea surges triggered by the strongest earthquake in the world for 40 years. Villages have been swamped and homes destroyed after the 8.9-magnitude quake, the fifth strongest since 1900. At least 500 died in Sri Lanka and a similar number were killed in India" Foreign Office earthquake helpline number is 0207 008 0000. Crista

Nature can be absolutely horrifying.......those poor people....

Isn't it asolutely awful news. Can't imagine how terrifyting it must be. Events like this certainly help to get life into perspective. My thoughts are with all the people affected. Jean x.

There is a map here http://news.bbc.*co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4125481.stm#map It looks to me that any unusual tidal activity in the Pacific would be minimal as the waves would be absorbed by the land to the east of the epicentre of the quake. This seems to be what the map suggests too.

Apparently it has hit at least 5 countries - those affected: India Indonesia Sri Lanka Thailand and the Maldives have been flooded - has also been felt in Singapore and Malaysia.

What a tragedy! My brother came back from Phuket about four weeks ago and tells of a beautiful place with lovely people! He was originally to have gone for Christmas...how glad I am that he went earlier!

CB, We are fine thanks, although the coast can get hit by tsunamis if there's a big quake in Pacific. I was worried in case people had relatives holidaying in the Maldives or Phuket. Crista

Reported death toll so far: Sri Lanka: 2,000 dead India: 1,000 dead Thailand: 156 dead Indonesia: 400 dead Malaysia: 17 dead

We have friends in Kerala State in India, just around the bottom of India and up the east coast. We are aware some people have died in Kerala and are awaiting an email to here if they are OK. For all the terrible atrocities of war nothing can beat the power of nature for the devastation that it can cause. Ros

Now it's: Sri Lanka: 2,400 dead Indonesia: 1,873 dead India: 1,200 dead Thailand: 257 dead Malaysia: 17 dead Maldives: 10 dead

Lots of Australians go to Indonesia and Phuket over the school holidays and Xmas. Especialy West Australians. I have been watching the bbc news here. God bless them all. Pam

Crista, I have just seen the news and am horrified by the scale of death that we cannot even try to accomodate in our minds. My heart and prayers go out to the Asian people. Lindyxx

There are more than 7000 reported dead already: Sri Lanka: 3,225 dead Indonesia: 2,200 dead India: 2,000 dead Thailand: 257 dead Malaysia: 28 dead Maldives: 10 dead Bangladesh: 2 dead

Isn't it terrible? It always hits the poorest countries too, so many more will die because there are so few resources and services to help them. Wasn't there an earthquake in Iran (Bam?) at Christmas last year?

Please dont take this the wrong way, but a tragedy like this......one cough, and the earth does this........and we are supposed to combat global warming?

This is a big worry in our house, as parents and sister of step-son's girlfriend are in southern India. They are staying with us over Xmas and she is awaiting email or phone call (which could be difficult as no doubt communications are affected). We are all hoping and praying they are OK.

Hard to imagine that number, thousands, and their lives wiped out. I have friends who were recently in Phuket. My niece should be travelling soon to southern India to work during her gap year. It brings it home a little. RIP. Joy

My brother and his partner thought they would get away from it all this year and spent Christmas day paddling in the indian ocean on the Maldives - he managed to call home this morning, he's a bit wet under foot but okay. Thank god.

My step daughter lives in Sri Lanka and goes to the east coast (the worst hit) every Christmas, but thank god, this year they decided to have a change and go up into the hills. We heard this morning that she and her family are ok and she thinks their house will be ok, but wont know for certain until they return tomorrow as she lives in Colombo. Her main worry is she does not know if her friends, who also go to the east coast for christmas, are ok. What a terrible tragedy and so many lives lost.