An update on the devastating earthquake and tsunamis that hit Asia yesterday. Latest news suggests that the earthquake measured 9.0 on the Richter scale. Note: we'll be updating about the quake, it's aftermath and it lessons thoughout the day on the main page.
States of emergency have been declared by Sri Lanka and Maldives. Tremors rocked Port Blair this morning. Continued aftershocks are expected in the region. The Indian Met department has warned people to stay away from shores for the next 48 hours.
Read Keith Taylor's understanding of the magnitude of the devastation both immediate and longer term, and a detailed explanation on tsunamis. Excellent coverage at The Command Post, a first-hand account here, updated death tolls here and how you can help [Source : Keith Taylor].
The death toll that continues to rise [Source: NDTV]. As of at 10 am this morning, almost exactly 24 hours after the tsunamis struck, this is what it looks like :
Total dead : Almost 13,000. Many thousands more missing.
Indonesia : 4200
Sri Lanka : 4300; 750,000 displaced and unconfirmed reports about more flooding
India : 3900 ; statewise split Tamil Nadu- 2900; Andaman & Nicobar Islands- 1000; Andhra Pradesh- 89 ; Kerala- 128
Thailand : 280
Malaysia : 40
Maldives : 38
We called up our friends in South India and Sri Lanka and they are safe. Still, they know people who have been affected and some are still missing. We are all affected.
I am wondering too whether we would have seen this huge loss had the region had tsunami warning systems like the US and Japan?
Still, right now its all about relief operations in the region - aid to survivors, hunt for the missing. There are mounting fears of epidemics resulting from the floods, contamination of food and water, and a break-down in sanitation.
The why's will come later - and the human stories.
