Bad Earthquake on 26th of December again

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

Yes. On 26th of December 2003 over 40 000 died in Iran when a mere 6.3 Richter earthquake sweeped across Bami-area at night when Iranians were asleep in their clay tile houses which then collapsed like house of cards causing massive casualty numbers.

And now on 26th of December 2004 at least 11 000 people died in the most massive earthquake in 40 years. 8.9 Richter scale. Tsunami did the most killing with this earthquake. Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India with thousands of casualties and also lot on Thailand and other countries.

[QttP 0]

Man, those Tsunami rock. Awesome brutal force. ;-)

Condolences to the people. :-)

[Fujisan 537]

Do we know of any Sumo forum members in those countries?

Apart from Jeijima who lives in Thailand but was not affected by the Tsunamis apparently.

[Jakusotsu 6,403]

Some escaped tourist in a radio interview described the situation as "pretty awful" - whatever that means... ;-)

Words are not enough, I guess.

[Iwagakki 0]

I have been following the news of this earthquake pretty closely. A close friend of the family lives in Thailand, so we were all worried. She is fine though.

I just read that the death toll is more than 63,000 and that many tens of thousands are missing and presumed killed.

It just makes my heart ache.... (Depressed...)

[Mark Buckton 1]

Do we know of any Sumo forum members in those countries?

Apart from Jeijima who lives in Thailand but was not affected by the Tsunamis apparently.

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Isn't he in HK? :-(

[Zentoryu 154]

Do we know of any Sumo forum members in those countries?

Apart from Jeijima who lives in Thailand but was not affected by the Tsunamis apparently.

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Isn't he in HK? :-(

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I think he lives in Hong Kong but was vacationing in Thailand or someplace in that area. I could be wrong though.

[Taizeniki 0]

Words are not enough, I guess.

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no, I don't think there are words, really. Tectonic plates shifted.... the disaster is.... and the world hurts.

[Fujisan 537]

Isn't he in HK? (Whistling...)

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I think he lives in Hong Kong but was vacationing in Thailand or someplace in that area. I could be wrong though.

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Hmmmm I should know being in the same bench sumo ichimon but to be honest I'm not sure but I do know for sure that Jeijima was in Thailand when the disaster struck and had been considering a holiday to Sri Lanka because he said so on the BSML.

Edited December 30, 2004 by Fujisan

[Jonosuke 28]

I simply cannot comprehend the scale and magnitude of devastation - over 100,000 people killed. I am aware that what I can do is pretty limited but just like where I am, there are many organizations such as Internatioal Red Cross trying to help as much as they can. It's not much but today I did a little bit - sending my share and hope you can do the same.

I love islands especially tropical islands - there are something special about them but knowing all the people who perished living in these islands and those still desparatetly trying to saving the lives and rebuild, they will need our support.

Thinking of all these people in the islands I just cannot help but remember the words of John Donne:

"No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

Outside the region itself, Nordic countries have been badly affected. Finland's 200+ casualties is already a major major loss here and affects many people but both Norway and Denmark lost much more.

However the most stunning losses were suffered in Sweden with possibly even 3500 dead. There are many other countries with significant losses too including Germany for example but in relation to population, Sweden's loss is immense. In Germany 35 000 casualties would be same class in proportion to population. Sweden did suffer badly in the Estonian accident in 1994 where 500 Swedes died but 3500 is simply unfathomable to a country with less than 9 million population. Almost everyone in Sweden must be affected by this....

[Sasanishiki 57]

In regard to Sweden, I read in the newspaper yesterday that the names of the Swedish dead are not being released in the media. Apparently they are hoping to avoid burglaries at the homes of the deceased, as this happened in 1994 after the accident in estonia. Can anyone shed more light on this?