Sumatra tsunami history

[sereneorange]

I have been watching the news about the tsunamis and there is person
after person talking about how this is never been discussed as an issue
throughout the generations.

But Sumatra had a similar incident in
1883. I know that is 121 years ago, but surely this was written down
somewhere that someone there would know about it.

Mangroves that
have been removed for shrimping would have helped if they were still
there. Europe  pays less for shrimp from this area, so the protective
mangroves have been cleared for shrimp ponds. It would have maybe helped
to save a few of the lives lost.

This is just all so sad and
horrific.

Comments

[dangermouse74.livejournal.com]

don't believe any of that BS. We expected one would be coming. events like this have happened throughout history and in other places even recently. people just are happier not worrying abotu shit and being blissfully ignorant, saying, it will never happen to me. Well guess what, now it did, and the population is 100,000 people lighter. a lot less ignorant people now though huh? funny how that works....

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

Well guess what, now it did, and the population is 100,000 people lighter. a lot less ignorant people now though huh? funny how that works....

no. It is not even a little bit funny. That was one of the most disturbing and obscenely callouse things I have ever read.

[dangermouse74.livejournal.com]

it wasn't meant to be funny. it was an expression of anger and frustration, there was no humor intended whatsoever.

[prowly.livejournal.com]

Footage shot by an Associated Press Television News cameraman on the military helicopter showed town after town covered in mud and sea water. Homes had their roofs ripped off or were flattened.

A solitary mosque and green treetops were all that broke the line of water in one town.

mangroves? oh please... you don't honestly believe a few trees would have been able to stop a big effing tidal wave, do you?

We're facing a disaster of unprecedented proportion in nature," said Simon Missiri, a top Red Cross official. "We're talking about a staggering death toll.

Unprecedented, Simon? Hardly:

Deadliest earthquakes on record

Date Location Number of fatalities Magnitude
1556 China, Shansi 830,000 n/a
1976 China, Tangshan 255,000 7.5
1138 Syria, Aleppo 230,000 n/a
1927 China, near Xining 200,000 n/a
856 B.C. Iran, Damghan 200,000 n/a
1920 China, Gansu 200,000 8.6
893 B.C. Iran, Ardabil 150,000 n/a
1923 Japan, Kwanto 143,000+ n/a
1948 Turkmenistan 110,000 7.3
1908 Italy, Messina est.70,000 to 100,000 7.2
1290 China, Chihli 100,000 n/a
1667 Azerbaijan, Shemakha 80,000 n/a
1727 Iran, Tabriz 77,000 n/a
1755 Portugal, Lisbon 70,000 n/a
1932 China, Gansu 70,000 7.6
1970 Peru 66,000 7.9
1268 Turkey, Cilicia 60,000 n/a
1693 Italy, Sicily 60,000 n/a
1935 Pakistan, Quetta 30,000 to 60,000 7.5
2004 Off Sumatra west coast over 58,000 9.0
1783 Italy, Calabria 50,000 n/a
1990 Iran, Gilan 35,000 7.7
2003 Iran, Bam 31,000 6.6


we're not even close to breaking the record. What disturbs me is the lack of accuracy. 70,000 - 100,000? 30,000 - 60,000? Did they misplace 30,000 people or what?

[serene-orange.livejournal.com]

I dont think that this is even close to the deadliest of all. I never
said the mangroves would have stopped it. I didn't even imply it. It
is reported that is would have helped a little. very little. But that
does mean something. It just bothers me that people do things without
ever looking ahead. We destroy coral reefs and they provide protection
as well.