8.9

[FatFat Bastard]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...ake041226.html

OLOMBO - About 9,000 people were killed after a strong earthquake triggered massive waves in Sri Lanka, southern India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Maldives.

The 8.9 magnitude quake struck in the Bay of Bengal off the northern coast of Sumatra. At least 1,800 were killed by floods and collapsing buildings on the Indonesian island.
The coastal community of Maddampegama, about 60 kilometres south of Colombo, Sri Lanka (AP photo)

The hardest hit country was Sri Lanka, where officials reported walls of water more than six metres high. Entire villages were swept away, said Marcal Izard of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

More than 3,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka, police said. One Canadian is reported among the victims; that person has not been identified.

The Sri Lankan government has declared a national disaster and appealed for international emergency aid. It's estimated one million people have been left homeless by the tower of water pounding the coast.

In southern India, huge waves devastated a large region. At least 2,400 people are dead and hundreds of fishermen are missing. Yasir Khan, a freelance journalist in New Delhi, said the army is co-ordinating relief efforts.

"Beaches have turned into open-air mortuaries," Khan told CBC Newsworld.

In Madras, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the city's police commissioner says the bodies taken to hospitals are mostly those of young women and children.

More than 40 deaths have been reported in Malaysia, but the toll is expected to go higher. A number of fishing boats from that country were at sea at the time of the quake and have not been heard from.

About 400 were confirmed dead in southern Thailand, with most of the fatalities reported in the resort of Phuket.

Wall of water hit with no warning
Patong beach in Phuket, Thailand (AP photo)

In Phuket, every hotel is normally sold-out this time of year. Tourists on the tiny island witnessed water pouring into hotel rooms as high as the third floor, CBC's Michael McAuliffe said.

On Thailand's Phi Phi island, journalist Malika Browne of Global Radio News said there was no warning before the earthquake-driven waves hit the beach on what was a sunny day with very little wind.

"It was a light blue wall of water," she said. "It got higher as it came ashore."

A massive wave also hit the low-lying Maldives, an island chain 800 kilometres south of India. A government spokesman said two-thirds of the capital is under water.

* BACKGROUNDER: Earthquakes

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 8.9-magnitude earthquake was the world's largest in 40 years.

The quake struck at 7:58 a.m. local time Sunday morning and was felt as far away as Singapore, causing high-rise buildings to sway. About two hours later, a series of tidal waves up to 10 metres high hit coastal areas.

[LoveThyPain]

"In Madras, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the city's police commissioner says the bodies taken to hospitals are mostly those of young women and children."

thats where my mom n sis r right now ... they were staying just a few kms away from the coastal line, but luckily nothin happened to them.

[matty_UK]

Terrible news.

[Melkor]

I have spent all day trying to track down my parents who were supposed to have been in Phuket this whole weekend. It turns out they stayed in Bangkok instead, watched the whole thing on the news and never thought once about calling us and letting us know they weren't dead. Jackasses.

I hope those people are okay over there.

[Ascended Saiyan]

It just goes to show that no matter what kind of inventions we humans create, mother nature can still KICK OUR ASSES.

An 8.9 is an EXTREMELY strong quake. From what I understand, we've never had a 10 in recorded history. Not yet, anyway........

[.aeterna]

wow...this is incredible :[. this was very unexpected

[zxcvnm]

11,000 people died. RIP.

[SYRIANKID]

The Prophet said, "The Hour will not come until the following events have come to pass: Knowledge will disappear, earthquakes will increase, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear, and Harj (ie killing) will increase.

[Cat Basher]

Originally Posted by SYRIANKID

The Prophet said, "The Hour will not come until the following events have come to pass: Knowledge will disappear, earthquakes will increase, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear, and Harj (ie killing) will increase.

No offence, but do you spend all day with your nose in the Qu'ran?

[Diesel66]

http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/7up.html

Earthquakes are not increasing. Time has not sped up.

[P. Ramlee]

Watched it on the local news... Cried when i saw them bringing up dead children from the beaches

[SYRIANKID]

Originally Posted by Diesel66

http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/7up.html

Earthquakes are not increasing. Time has not sped up.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0197840.html

[dfz111]

Just heard on the news, death toll up to 14,000 and is still expected to rise.
Pretty crazy, such a freak event.

[JBDW]

Just to point out to you, SK, Earthquake activity may not be on the rise...the increasing number of earthquakes recorded is quite likely due to the increasing number of seismograph stations worldwide. So small earthquakes which were not picked up in the past now stand a much higher chance of being recorded.

[SYRIANKID]

Originally Posted by JBDW

Just to point out to you, SK, Earthquake activity may not be on the rise...the increasing number of earthquakes recorded is quite likely due to the increasing number of seismograph stations worldwide. So small earthquakes which were not picked up in the past now stand a much higher chance of being recorded.

I think you're being a little vague here.

Have you done research on advances in seismograph technology, and whether advances help you record more Earthquakes OR do they help us understand more details about them.

It doesn't take much to register an Earthquake, advances go into predicting them and an increased understanding in the phenomena itself, but not in identifying when one is happening.

[JBDW]

Originally Posted by SYRIANKID

I think you're being a little vague here.

Have you done research on advances in seismograph technology, and whether advances help you record more Earthquakes OR do they help us understand more details about them.

It doesn't take much to register an Earthquake, advances go into predicting them and an increased understanding in the phenomena itself, but not in identifying when one is happening.

From my understanding, the stations pick up seismic waves, after which all the analysis and detailing of the earthquake comes in...but since we're discussing absolute numbers here..maybe I wasn't clear..

More stations around the world = greater coverage of the globe.
Greater coverage = a greater chance that smaller earthquakes are picked up

Earthquakes of large magnitudes (7.0) and above have remained fairly constant thus far...and even from your own data you can see that most of the increase comes from the mid-low magnitude earthquakes..

In this case I'm fairly sure that it's more due to the increasing number of seismograph stations than anything else.

[SYRIANKID]

Originally Posted by JBDW

More stations around the world = greater coverage of the globe. Greater coverage = a greater chance that smaller earthquakes are picked up

In this case I'm fairly sure that it's more due to the increasing number of seismograph stations than anything else.

Of course, we can't overlook a critical detail:

Having more seismograph stations around DOESN'T show that Earthquakes haven't been increasing in the areas where the stations have been placed.

Let me explain:

You're saying that the only reason we think that the gross number of earthquakes is going up, is because we're observing them in new areas.

I'm saying that this doesn't negate the fact that even in these newly monitored areas, earthquakes are increasing.

The only way to prove this is to actually find out which new locations are being monitored OR only look at a consistent number of locations through time.

[sicosico]

It is a sad day in the history of earth as the toll of the dead is increasing every minute, R.I.P.

[JBDW]

Originally Posted by SYRIANKID

I'm saying that this doesn't negate the fact that even in these newly monitored areas, earthquakes are increasing.

The only way to prove this is to actually find out which new locations are being monitored OR only look at a consistent number of locations through time.

But isn't it true that more stations = more readings?

I'm just saying that it MAY not be that earthquake activity globally is increasing...

We just don't really know enough. Until the day comes that we can cover ever square inch of the globe with stations.

[SYRIANKID]

Originally Posted by JBDW

But isn't it true that more stations = more readings?

Look at it this way:

Either total Earthquakes in reality are increasing or not.

Now if they're increasing in reality, your increasing the stations is NOT the reason you are registering more Earthquakes. Why? Because had you had those same places stationed, you would have still observed an increase.

So the cause isn't the increase in stations, it's the underlying increase in stations.

We can't attribute increased readings on increased stations and IGNORE the very real possibility that the increased readings would have increased any way because there are increasing earthquakes in reality.

I'm just saying that it MAY not be that earthquake activity globally is increasing...

Yes, that's a possibility, but it can't be confirmed until we get more details on WHERE extra stations have been added, whether it matters if we discount those readings, etc.

We just don't really know enough. Until the day comes that we can cover ever square inch of the globe with stations.

haha, or until the End Times are upon us and it doesn't matter anymore.

[LoveThyPain]

I usually refrain from posting in this section but i was compelled to do so now...

Syrian Kid i dunno y u have to bring religion in2 this. This is the last thing on our minds.... as i had mentioned earlier my mom n sis narrowly escaped death. I am just thankful to the lord that nothin happened to them. I dont think i wanna be concerned about the apocalypse now and i am sure most ppl who have their relatives or friends out there would attest to this as well.

[SYRIANKID]

Originally Posted by LoveThyPain

I usually refrain from posting in this section but i was compelled to do so now...

Syrian Kid i dunno y u have to bring religion in2 this. This is the last thing on our minds.... as i had mentioned earlier my mom n sis narrowly escaped death. I am just thankful to the lord that nothin happened to them. I dont think i wanna be concerned about the apocalypse now and i am sure most ppl who have their relatives or friends out there would attest to this as well.

Fair enough, I'm pulling out of this thread. (though most people draw closer to God during calamity, that's when they realize that none can help them besides Him).

Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To God We belong, and to Him is our return": - (Qur'an 2:155-156)

[LoveThyPain]

Originally Posted by SYRIANKID

Fair enough, I'm pulling out of this thread. (though most people draw closer to God during calamity, that's when they realize that none can help them besides Him).

Well not everyone believes in the same God as u. I am sorry but I am neither Christian nor Muslim, so quotes from the Quran r definately not going to soothe me.

[M@chin@]

Originally Posted by LoveThyPain

Well not everyone believes in the same God as u. I am sorry but I am neither Christian nor Muslim, so quotes from the Quran r definately not going to soothe me.

Funny thing is he's just a jerk off kid with pretensions.

He has to read translations of his prophets words because he's ignorant.

[the rich pimp]

That was very tragic, I hope everything works out for them, I watched a live feed on the news. People & kids screaming out for help as they were pulled down the hill by the current. They could do nothing. Damn that is so sad.

[LoveThyPain]

Originally Posted by M@chin@

Funny thing is he's just a jerk off kid with pretensions.

He has to read translations of his prophets words because he's ignorant.

Dunno about that. Havent been here much, but one things 4 sure even if this guy's intentions are good, he's going about it the wrong way.

[LoveThyPain]

Originally Posted by the rich pimp

That was very tragic, I hope everything works out for them, I watched a live feed on the news. People & kids screaming out for help as they were pulled down the hill by the current. They could do nothing. Damn that is so sad.

I heard the death toll last was 14,000 Its really bad man.

[Jane Mak]

20,000+ gone

[LoveThyPain]

Originally Posted by Jane Mak

20,000+ gone

damn i m gonna log off now n watch the news

[Lord_Nazgul]

well it's at 14 900.... i won't be suprised if it reaches 20 000. It's a sad day.