Larian Studios Forums General Chat Terrible earthqueek in South East Asia

Yesterday, while driving to a bithday party of a good friend, I heard in the radio something about an article in a local magazine. It's about how the warning systems failed.

Recollecting from my memory it was that

- the first warning was made by a U.S. organization (science related ? ) , who put it on their website ONLY. The commentator in the radio said that "obviously this website wasn't shown early enough" (or something like that)

- the second was U.S. , too, sent to countries which belong to the "pacific warning system", while leaving Sri Lanka and some others out, which don't belong to it

- one warning of Thailand was suppressed in order not to frighten tourists <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

- another one was sent to the minister who was responsible in a country (forgot the countrie's name) for such things - at least they triedto. In fact, they actually sent it to the former minister - the precessor of the current one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

- "the most effective warning came from a small tribe containing about 150 people" , the person on the radio said.

In fact the leader (chieftain ? I would be not surprised if it was the shaman) said to his people they should go into safety on a high mountain (or hill) there. "The Elder Ones know that when the sea goes away, it will come back with high power" that was the quote the man on the radio said.

really lame...



not really surprising... if Europe or US was interested by helping Sri Lanka it would be known (never forget there was one of the most terrible civil war until recently... in general indifference)



well unfortunately for thai economy tourists would be frightened for some years now...



would be funny in a movie... In RL much more than disturbing...

I think taht this disaster is a prime example of how being selfcentered (like the US in this case), and being preoccupied with financial gain (Thaiwan), lead to excalated damages, beyond our immagination.

If you think of how many people could have been saved, if they had even as much as a SINGLE Hour warning... (not the 2 hours it took to reach many places)....

People could have fled the beaches. They could have reached 5 km inland where the destruction wasnt as severe anymore, they could have reached the safety of a hill/mountain.

Granted, boats out at sea, were probably doomed regardless, YET, if you know a little about sailing, you can at least prepare as best you can. Turn the bow towards the wave, lock down everything, lower the masts etc.... You would still be in for one "hellofa" bumpy ride, but you would be prepared, and according to my reconning, about 30% more boats would have made it.

AFAIK, most deaths were caused by people being sweeped away by the waves, if those people had even 20 minutes warning, and were told to get to high-ground, they could have made a run for it, they could have made sure that their children were together and made Some preparations....

I think there are a lot of deaths on those governments' guilty hands.

Granted, some places just had a VERY VERY direct hit, Sumatra, then Indonesia and Phuket.... but the rest of the coutries had more time to broadcast warnings, more time to prepare, if only they knew....

There's more to this than what your media tells you, but you are entitled to your own opinions.


Kyra_Ny

Thanks for reminding me........ Off to go check up on some "alternative" news sites..... lets go see what the people with common sense say ....

Unfortunately there will always be more.... but no matter HOW much more there were/ are, lives could have been saved....

Not that I am pro or anti anything .... but the US does have the 1 and only Aircraft Carrier of the coast of Indonesia ... yes other countries have theirs on the way.
And that is a great help, freight Helicopters are flying to and fro the inland area's where the majority of destitute ppl are waiting helplessly for badly needed supplies.
Sofar the Oz contigent has been able to purify 20K litres of water an hour, to hopefully stop the disease epidemic that still might break out ..... I.O.W. it isn't over yet, these countries have a long long road to recovery.

Basically, anyone can say anything they want.
The early warning system America has set up is a joint venture between Japan and America. Both countries paid for the system.

This situation of today is much like what happened in our State of Colorado in the 80’s.
Colorado had a massive fire and it killed many of our fire fighters due to them not having better equipment.
Well, they didn’t have better equipment; because, there has never been a fire of its kind ever recorded in US history. Our fire officials didn’t know that better equipment was needed.
Like Colorado, the Tsunami in Asia, America had no idea that something of this magnitude would ever happen without any long term early warning signs.
Things are being hammered out here in America to prevent this in the future and America has upped its Aid from 35 Million to 350 Million US Dollars.
No it doesn’t make up for all of the lost life in no way, but would it be better if America never gave any Aid? Of course not!!!
Also, there’s no way a plane could have gotten the info to the people in enough time.
Being a Military spouse I know that for a fact.


Kyra_Ny

Hmmmm, I heard a rumour that there was an early warning system in Australia that never informed the affected countries due to 'political reasons' i.e. they never paid for it.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Still, if the Thai government (and others) are going to squash such warnings when they get them then they probably don't deserve the privelage of such a system.

Well, 150,000 dead so far. I hope people learn to recognise the signs of impending disaster next time.

Bloody tragic.

Also please, knock it off with the "we're killing mother earth" garbage. This stuff has happened for hundreds/thousands of years. The documenting of it has just improved. The human race has nothing much to do with tectonic shifts. Believe me, we're not that important.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

as always Womble's right...

I can't see what we have to do with tectonics shifts... himalaya is born like this i think between any of us or our farest sires were in life...

and i'm not very impressed with the warning system argument...

maybe it would have prevented some deaths not many more people losing everything... an house is destroyed that its inhabitants are warned or not and for them the consequences are the same... no more home... In countries where an house is often all that you can own....

And even then its just a tin shack. Horrible that the government can't provide adequate housing for its people really... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

1,5 billion dollars has been collected.
It is my, maybe stupid, idea that the 10 or so richest people in the earth should show their worth by all throwing in a piece of their wealth.
Because, come on, someone like bill gated can NEVER spend all his money, it's just to much.
So why don't spent it for a good cause?

I think, maybe its just a stupid illusion, that the richest People of the World are Humans like us.
And so i think they gave a part.
Sure, not all. But we can`t give all too.
We will have enough for us to have a good life as possible.
And i think this is right, if we all give a part.

People, lets not argue about this! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />


I heard some places they didn't know how bad it was there, because all of the people died in them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

that's right, Lews. on some islands, the entire population is wiped out by the tsunami. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sad.gif" alt="" />

& as for the relaying news to former ministers instead of the current ones, i think somebody's contact list should be updated. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> doesn't bode well when u need to relay news FAST. won't be good if let's say the minister who's in charge of security in the US wants to contact his equivalent in malaysia just to find out that the dude has been dead for 15 years. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/down.gif" alt="" />

& as for not to raise panic & keeping things hush-hush, thailand definitely has paid the price now.

Kyra's is right when she mentioned about most countries not preparing for something like that. how can one get ready for something so unlikely as this? what's next? alien invasion?

point is: we can never know when calamity strikes. we get ready on whatever we know & yet circumstances can catch us with our guards down. another point is; never do us any good pointing fingers at times like this, rather we need to help those who need them so they can live on again.

to all countries & people who have helped or contributed in some ways in whatever forms of help, THANK YOU. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" /> please keep the love coming.

The local newspaper reports of a small island in the "back" of indonesia, sheltered from the storm / waves , so they didn't notice anything at all ! And *there* the people are still spending their vacation !

What's bothering me is that you see politicians and other "vips" (moviestars, singers,...) popping up everywhere in the area. Showing the world what nice and fantastic human beings they are. Most staying in expensive hotels inland. Only spend a few minutes on the beach to get in front of some cameras and then it's back home.
It's often the ones who haven't been in news lately. Or the ones who need to clean up their images.

Already policians are also playing games. Who gets to help where, who's gonna be in charge, ...
Like Bush. Setting up a plan with only Australia and Japan.
Getting back at Europe for not supporting war in Iraq.

Not all think of themselves though. Sandra Bullock fi donated 1.000.000 $ if I remember right. And it wasn't her anouncing it. The American red cross made public she donated that much $$$.
And I'm sure there are others who mean well. But to many just abuse it.

When I see one of them on tv I can't help thinking: "Get out of there. You and all those cameras are just in the way. And you been taking up lots of valuable space in a plane that could have been put to better use.

Doesn't surprise me in the slightest Seth. Nice to see you around BTW.

Some people are soulless enough to gain notariety and self-publicity in any way possible. It annoys me intensely. They get millions for standing in front of a camera while tossing a few obligatary coins into a donation tin.

America's donation? Whatever....
After announcing a defence budget of x trillion dollars (I'm not quite sure how much) I'd flipping HOPE they could spare a few million to rebuild some or the poorer nations of the world. Its a drop in the ocean for the US government. They could (and should) give much more.

They'll expect it to be paid back in one way or another too...

Good to see you again too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I thought you had left. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sad.gif" alt="" /> - hadn't seen a post of you since I'm back.

It's not just USA. But USA sticks out becouse it's so dominating. And you and I both know there are good ppl in USA too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
We have that kind of parasites all over the globe.
And then you read again about that woman who had her cat cloned for 50.000 $ (I think it was)... and you go like... "o geez, luckely there are no starving ppl anymore who could use those 50.000 $"
It's just that most of those crazy things seem to happen in USA.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

Just give what you can miss, if it's not money, than donate some clothes or food in cans or toys or anything. If you can't miss anything, just pray for the victims and there family.

We have a saying in Belgium. It goes like that: "Sometimes we see the torn in someone elses eye, but we don't see the tree in our own eye". I'm not sure if I put it well, but I'm trying to say htat it's no use to talk about others and their money, but we should start by ourselves. I always have the feeling that I can give an example to others and I say : Sweep in front of your own door . No offense!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Very true

the saying you are looking for is a biblical saying, "Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
" IIRC Luke 6:39 (or a verse very close to there).

Unfortunately it is easier to point a finger than to look into your own heart.... sad, but true...

All we can do, is either help raising funds or donating money/goods (like a lot of us are doing), other than that, we can only pray...