Bring down the shadows of my mind
23,500 people are now thought to be dead in the Asian Earthquake disaster. The Earthquake has been measured at something like 9.0 on the Richter scale.
Coincidentally, at exactly this time last year, we were digesting the news that there had been an Earthquake in Bam in Iran - both struck on 26th December. In Bam, the earthquake was measured at around 6.5 on the richter scale.
I cross-checked the definitions of eathquakes of this strength and found this (here the richter scale is cross-referenced with the modified Mercalli scale):
An earthquake at 6.5 on the Richter scale is described as: "disastrous: ground badly cracked and many buildings are destroyed. There are some landslides".
The final death-toll at Bam was thought to be something in excess of 40,000 people.
An earthquake at 9.0 on the Richter scale is: "Catastrophic: total destruction. Objects are thrown into the air. Much heaving, shaking and distortion of the ground".
This is one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. I know it took place under the ocean and not in a populous area, but the Tsunami it created was devastating and over the next few days and weeks we are going to see the death-toll continue to rise.
Never mind the wars we insist on fighting, sometimes the everyday business of survival in the face of nature seems difficult enough.
There's not really much I can add to this, except that you can donate here.
Awful.
Coincidentally, at exactly this time last year, we were digesting the news that there had been an Earthquake in Bam in Iran - both struck on 26th December. In Bam, the earthquake was measured at around 6.5 on the richter scale.
I cross-checked the definitions of eathquakes of this strength and found this (here the richter scale is cross-referenced with the modified Mercalli scale):
An earthquake at 6.5 on the Richter scale is described as: "disastrous: ground badly cracked and many buildings are destroyed. There are some landslides".
The final death-toll at Bam was thought to be something in excess of 40,000 people.
An earthquake at 9.0 on the Richter scale is: "Catastrophic: total destruction. Objects are thrown into the air. Much heaving, shaking and distortion of the ground".
This is one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. I know it took place under the ocean and not in a populous area, but the Tsunami it created was devastating and over the next few days and weeks we are going to see the death-toll continue to rise.
Never mind the wars we insist on fighting, sometimes the everyday business of survival in the face of nature seems difficult enough.
There's not really much I can add to this, except that you can donate here.
Awful.
posted by swisslet @ 20:08
3 Comments:
At 8:08 am,
Aravis said…
There's speculation that when this is all said and done, the death-toll may exceed Bam. That was an interesting coincidence btw, ST. I hadn't picked up on that. There's also the concern that disease will set in and wipe out more in the aftermath. Thanks for providing a link to help.
One of the articles I read today- and I apologize but I can no longer remember which one- called this earthquake/tsunami "amoral" and I thought that was an odd choice of words. I understood what was meant- the devastation and colossal loss of life- but wouldn't have thought that morality could come into play when discussing a natural disaster. Or is that just me? Either way doesn't matter.
It's tragic.
At 12:39 pm,
The Editor said…
Earthquakes/tsunamis are, by definition, amoral.
Wars, the other killers of very large numbers of people, are, on the other hand, immoral.
It's really quite easy if you're not in the business of justifying mass murder...
Hi Toni.
At 9:03 pm,
Aravis said…
Duh. Thanks Gerry. I should get a little more sleep before I try to think. *G*
Post a Comment
<< Home