Biggest earthquake in 40 years hits Southeast Asia

[Chemical Ollie]

I think it's quite natural to care more about people you know, than about people you never heard of. Every town in Sweden will have someone who died. Every school and large workplace will have a survivor to tell the horror stories. Every person knows someone who was there.

To make a comparison, you hear much more American griefing over the 1000 soldiers who was killed in Iraq, than you hear about the 100 000 or so Iraqis. (and don't jump on these numbers, the are not the point). It's natural to care more about your own nationals.

[Giancarlo]

Well I care about the Iraqis that died (100,000 is an overblown number). I still grieve for them and the soldiers. But I know it was all worth it despite the sarcifice but this isn't the thread for it.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Giancarlo
but this isn't the thread for it.

Something I can agree with Giancarlo on...

To Everybody:
Enough with the trolling
Enough with using this thread to continue your personal political agendas
Enough with flaming

Show some respect for the dead. Show some respect for those who are concerned about love ones... Just show some DAMN RESPECT PERIOD!

This is an awful tragedy... go troll, throw around insults, further your damn political agendas SOMEWHERE ELSE!

[Chemical Ollie]

A girl who is working in the same building as me is a Red Cross medic. She was away from work today to take care of people who landed at the airport. According to the local newspaper, they had infactions, open wounds and broken bones that needed treatment before the transportation to their home towns. In the plane of 266 passengers, ten family members were missing.

She has also started a fund raising campaign for the IRC at my job. I gave 300 kr (30€, 40$), in addition ot the 600 I already payed to the Unicef. A pathetic sum really, but all I could spare at the moment.

[Shi Huangdi]

Originally posted by Ming


Something I can agree with Giancarlo on...

To Everybody:
Enough with the trolling
Enough with using this thread to continue your personal political agendas
Enough with flaming

Show some respect for the dead. Show some respect for those who are concerned about love ones... Just show some DAMN RESPECT PERIOD!

This is an awful tragedy... go troll, throw around insults, further your damn political agendas SOMEWHERE ELSE!

[BlackCat]

The Taiwanese space organisation (NSPO) has for free released sattelite pics of the disaster area (normal price 3.000 $).

They can be found at http://www.nspo.org.tw/e60/news/n931228.html - i haven't tried, the small ones are at 3 Mb and the large at 300 Mb

[Dis]

U.S. Navy as usual, saves the day

actually even one carrier and one expeditionary group along with hospital ships won't be able to do enough to counter this catastrophe. At best, they will be able to help a few medium sized towns directly.

Although the choppers could airdrop a lot of supplies. But that will take some time. And carriers do have limited number of supplies they can drop. People think carriers are self sustaining, but they need continuous resupply from other ships. I'm sure this will happen, but the supply ships will have to go to unaffected areas for resupply- such as Singapore (a frequent navy stopping point).

[Chemical Ollie]

Swedish Governent has initially decided to give 500 Mkr ($75 M) in foreign aid, to be shared between the IRC, Unicef and other UN institutions and some Swedish civil defense organisations.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Sri Lanka added 3,000. The estimate is now over 120,000.

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20041230/2004-12-30T135659Z_01_N30180903_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-QUAKE-DC.html

In other news, British citizens have given 23 million pounds in 24 hours, and that number has stayed steady.

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/15666215?source=Evening%20Standard&ct=5

[Atahualpa]

I donated 100 Euros together with my gf.
I wish everyone well.

[Drake Tungsten]

Just got the news that the last of my missing friends have been located and are alright...

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Just got the news that the last of my missing friends have been located and are alright...

[Pekka]

Atahualpa,

[Chemical Ollie]

Several hundred of the missing Swedish charter tourist have turned up on the evacuation flights.

But the number of missing backpackers is still uncertain. Swedish Prime Minister admits that at least 1000 citizens could be dead, while only 44 bodies have been officially identified.

[Monk]

It's one of the few events that directly affects a significant amount of people in the West.

Monk's backpacker friend P. sent his last e-mail on December 15 saying he was on his way to Thailand, and I just learned that for a number of reasons, he was still in Cambodia when hell broke loose.

Had me worried for some time there. And I must say I symphatize with those who have yet to experience their loved ones reporting back that they're safe.