Indonesia - Sumatra Earthquake - Evacuations Under way (Update - 8.5 quake )

Dow Jones News | 3/28/05

[Helmholtz]

Dow Jones News Reports at 11:39 "DJ Singapore Official: 7.5 Quake Hits Sumatra - Kyodo"

No other reports yet.

[1FASTGLOCK45]

proust wrote:

And of course it's all Bush's fault!

--> I was thinking of Elvis, maybe he's releasing some of that banana-peanutbutter sandwich constipation!

[rwfromkansas]

Everything happens for a reason; there are no coincidences.

[Strategerist]

Everything happens for a reason; there are no coincidences.

I couldn't disagree more strongly.

People have such an emotional hatred of the concept of randomness, though.

[propertius]

LOL. I'm going to be hiding under my bed the day after Ascension day, I can tell you...

[BenLurkin]

offsets of 7.5 to 8m, similar in size to the offset during the great earthquake of 1857

It is hard to imagine the plates being displaced by 26 feet in a single event along the fault. The energy for that must be tremendous.

Fortunately there wasn't a lot of development in southern California in 1857. Come 2007 (or whenever) the damage and loss of life will be staggering...

[M. Espinola]

UPDATE:

A massive earthquake killed dozens of people and destroyed hundreds of homes in the main town on Indonesia's Nias island on Monday evening, according to a local government official.

Agus Mendrofa, the deputy mayor of Gunungsitoli town, estimated that 10,000 people had fled the town for higher ground after the 8.7 magnitude quake off the main island of Sumatra.

"I can guarantee that dozens have died," Mr Mendrofa said by telephone.

"Gunungsitoli is now like a dead town. The situation here is in extreme panic."

Mr Mendrofa added that roads had also been cracked by the quake.

- Reuters

TV grab from Metro TV shows Acehnese people using their vehicles to get to higher places in Banda Aceh following a strong earthquake that hit Sumatra island.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Thanks for the ping. Wow. Interesting series of circumstances.

[yellowdoghunter]

What does this have to do with the earthquake? This is a post that is off topic. I should really tattle on you to the Admin. I won't do that because I have better things to do.

(Please know that I don't mean to single you out, we all do it, I am just using this as an example.)

[Spktyr]

Many headed for higher ground, while police called for calm and mosques broadcast messages saying: "Don't panic, there is no tsunami".

My guess on the common response from the locals: "Yeah, right, sure, we believe you. If its all the same to you, though, we're just going to go over there to higher ground and leave you to find out if there is one or not."

[drjack]

The last earthquake was on Boxing Day, a big British holiday. Today's happened on Easter Monday, another British bank holiday.

It's obvious - someone doesn't like the British ban on fox hunting.

[The Sons of Liberty]

I know quite a few Christians who could stand a wake-up call. Certainly someone as self-righteous as yourself wouldn't be among them?

[Sender]

I've never gotten up the courage to try kimchee. I do like hot spicy things though. My favorite ramen (breakfast of champions) is Korean Shin Ramyun. I imagine that it's like kimchee without the fermented cabbage. It's hot enough to satisfy my need for endorphins and very complex and satisfying. My son likes Mi Goreng Pedas, hot fried noodles from Indonesia, er, I mean Quakeland.

[Theophilus]

People have such an emotional hatred of the concept of randomness

If this were true, then why do so many people gamble?

I believe randomness is not a concept at all but an excuse for uncertainty and fallibility. Many extend an irrational hatred of God to an irrational hatred for all causality.

[Sender]

Pecker sauce... sorry, I didn't use my spel cheker.

[spetznaz]

That is so wrong. LOL.

[rwfromkansas]

What do you do in Bangkok? Just curious what overseas Freepers do for a living.

thank goodness no reports of a tsunami yet.

[M. Espinola]

"off topic" "What does this have to do with the earthquake?" (?)

Everything, it's an earthquake update ....you better read that Reuters report again.

[Truth666]

"the thousands of Christian tourists killed while on holday. "
You are joking right?

[It's me]

"... that is not germane to the subject either...."

Really? There is a possible tsumnami in the area and it is not germain to the subject?

[yellowdoghunter]

I said I was making a point. I did not mean to single you out, but I think I made my point.