Asian Tsunamis Kill at Least 20,000 People

AP ^ | 12/26/04 | DILIP GANGULY

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Nice site on plate tectonics:

Plate Tectonics

The theory of plate tectonics has done for geology what Charles Darwin's theory of evolution did for biology. It provides geology with a comprehensive theory that explains "how the Earth works." The theory was formulated in the 1960s and 1970s as new information was obtained about the nature of the ocean floor, Earth's ancient magnetism, the distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes, the flow of heat from Earth's interior, and the worldwide distribution of plant and animal fossils.

Graphic of the World's plates at the link.....

[stlnative]

You just have to read this one...

Waves that bring death faster than a jumbo jet
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=596140

Here is some of it...

They believe the earthquake occurred as a result of a massive ground slip near a geological fault on the seafloor called the Java Trench, an underwater canyon that extends from northern Australia in the south to the Andaman islands in the north.

The Java Trench was created by a geological process called subduction, a zone where two of the Earth's tectonic plates collide. In this case, the Indian-Australian tectonic plate is "subducting", or slipping under the Eurasian plate, at a rate of about 2.5 inches (6cm) a year.

The tsunamis yesterday were probably caused by sudden movements of the seafloor which raised or lowered the entire water column above. It is also possible, however, that they were caused by a gigantic underwater landslide.

A sudden raising or lowering of the seafloor would have generated great amounts of potential energy as a result of the vertical displacement of deep-water columns.

[stlnative]

You just have to read this one...

Waves that bring death faster than a jumbo jet
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=596140

Here is some of it...

They believe the earthquake occurred as a result of a massive ground slip near a geological fault on the seafloor called the Java Trench, an underwater canyon that extends from northern Australia in the south to the Andaman islands in the north.

The Java Trench was created by a geological process called subduction, a zone where two of the Earth's tectonic plates collide. In this case, the Indian-Australian tectonic plate is "subducting", or slipping under the Eurasian plate, at a rate of about 2.5 inches (6cm) a year.

The tsunamis yesterday were probably caused by sudden movements of the seafloor which raised or lowered the entire water column above. It is also possible, however, that they were caused by a gigantic underwater landslide.

A sudden raising or lowering of the seafloor would have generated great amounts of potential energy as a result of the vertical displacement of deep-water columns.

[JimSEA]

Local TV is showing pictures from all over except the small islands like the Similian national park. Krapi looks to have been about as hard hit as Puket. Pang Nga probably looks worse due to the fact that it is a river delta and the waves went so far inland, destroying villages and farms. Luckily, we live in the North near Chiang Mai, so no local effect at all. The Gulf of Thailand, including Ko Samui, Ko Chang, Hua Hin, etc. were all spared by being on the opposite side of the penninsula from the quake.

[BenLurkin]

Here's an article published 12-25-04 (coincidentally) about a recent discovery on Tsunamis.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308869/posts

[TexKat]

I haven't seen any photos from Krabi and Ao Nang and Ralay beach, not much news from there.

392 dead, 3,000 injured by tidal waves in Thailand

At least 392 people were killed and 3,000 injured by tidal waves in southern Thailand, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Phang Nga province was the worst hit with 181 reported dead. Some 130 were killed in the resort island of Phuket, 45 died in neighbouring Krabi and 25 were killed in Ranong.

Seven were killed in Satun province and four in Trang province, the ministry's disaster unit said.

Thai villagers look at their fishing boats piled up after being destroyed in Krabi, southern Thailand, a day after a tidal wave devastated the coastline(AFP/Roslan Rahman)

A boy is carried by a Thai rescue worker after being evacuated from Krabi in Southern Thailand. A Melbourne teenager with Downs Syndrome and four other Australians were missing after tidal waves triggered by a massive earthquake swept across southeast Asia, killing more than 14,000 people.(AFP/Roslan Rahman)

A family is reunited following their rescue and evacuation from Krabi, in southern Thailand, a day after a tidal wave devastated the coastline(AFP/Roslan Rahman)

Indonesian Earthquake, Waves Kill 14,000 Across Asia (Update4)

``We're still missing about 10 or 20 people who were out on the islands,'' said Giancarlo Giacomelli, an Italian, 29, who is room division manager at Phra Nang Inn, a hotel at Ao Nang beach, 25 kilometers from Krabi, which sustained limited damage. ``One huge wave came in. It was the time when people were going to the islands. Many of the boats went under water and some people died.

[sweetliberty]

"that the wave traveled at a speed of 500 m.p.h.."

I can't even imagine that!

Ping!

[Central Scrutiniser]

I flew in to Samui the day after thanksgiving, we had just dodged a typhoon.

I haven't been to Chiang Mai yet, everyone tells me I must go, maybe next trip, along with a trip to Luang Prabang in Laos.

Just heard, the King's grandson did in fact die, that's gonna be big.

[mfccinsd]

Fox just said that more tsunamis are likely to hit Sri Lanka in the next few hours.

Article also on Aus. ABC news online, although not as 'hard' on the potential timeline of when.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1272785.htm

India, Sri Lanka warn of more tsunamis
Indian and Sri Lankan meteorologists have warned that more tsunamis could strike the south Asian coast over the next couple of days.

However, the Indian Meteorological Department's deputy director-general in Madras, S Sridharan, says the coming tsunamis will be smaller than the giant wave that killed thousands around Asia.

"Like a ripple, the tsunami will only die down gradually and so we expect more waves before they slowly subside over the next 24-48 hours," Mr Sridharan said.

Any further tsunamis were expected to be no more than half the size of Sunday's wave that officials estimate killed about 4,600 people in India.

Police have blocked some coastal roads in a bid to prevent further casualties from any more high seas.

Sri Lanka's National Meteorological Centre says it has detected tremors near the Indonesian island of Sumatra and has warned that more small tsunamis are on their way.

"Small tsunamis will hit the southern and eastern coastlines in the next few hours," said meteorolgist Ajith Weerawardena.

"We are expecting heavy rains along the northern and eastern coastline, starting tonight. This is bad news for rescue efforts," he added, advising against travel on coastal routes.

[TexKat]

Thanks for the info and link mfccinsd.

[Central Scrutiniser]

The Phra Nang got hit, I was a walk up the hill about 150 meteres up from there, on the third floor.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See post #10 in conjunction with this from the site you linked to:

It is also possible, however, that they were caused by a gigantic underwater landslide.

[TexKat]

Local TV is showing pictures from all over except the small islands like the Similian national park

A survivor’s story

Thailand’s ITV Television said tourists staying at one five-star hotel on Phi Phi were forced onto the roof to escape the swirling waters. It said helicopters were ferrying food and water to survivors on Similan and Surin islands, off the coast of Phang Nga province.

[JimSEA]

the King's grandson did in fact die, that's gonna be big.

It is, the boy is retarded but, of course much loved. He was doing so well in overcoming his problems and was this wife's only child, I believe. The King and royal family are justifiably much loved. This King has saved democratic processes and human rights from attack by military and business forces on several occasions yet has never gone the leftist route.

I have had to stop watching TV for a while. As you know, the press coverage here can be extremely graphic.

[Chgogal]

Sorry to butt in. Try Mae Hong Son a little northwest of Chiang Mai close to the Burma border. You can stay in a little rustic resort (by my standards) along the Pai River and as the morning mist evaporates, elephants will meander down and take their morning bath.

On a sadder note, I saw Ao Nang on the tube. There is damage. Koh Phi Phi isn't even recognizable. I hope the Similian National Park has survived. I still haven't managed to find time to dive there. Hopefully you will go someday in search of the Whale Sharks that swim the waters there.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

U.S. Offers Aid to Quake Victims; at Least 3 Americans Among Dead

[JimSEA]

Channel 11 (military owned) is showing a two year old farang baby who's parents cannot be located to try and locate someone who may be frantically searching. The people caring for him don't speak the child's language or know what language it is. Hopefully they will locate relatives soon.

[TexKat]

I pray that they do JimSEA.

[stlnative]

Here is some more...

Horror began deep beneath Indian Ocean
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/12/27/798157-sun.html

LONDON -- The chain reaction that set off enormous, deadly tidal waves that struck six Asian countries yesterday started several kilometers beneath the ocean floor off the tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Geologic plates pressing against each other slipped violently, creating a bulge on the sea bottom that could be as high as 10 metres and as long as 1,200 kilometres, one scientist said.

The quake occurred at a spot where two massive geological plates press against one another with enormous force, Booth said.

The Indian Ocean plate is gradually being forced underneath Sumatra, which is part of the Eurasian plate, at approximately the speed at which a human fingernail grows, he explained.

"This slipping doesn't occur smoothly," he said. Rocks along the edge stick against one another and pent-up energy builds over hundreds of years.

It's "almost like stretching an elastic band, and then when the strength of the rock isn't sufficient to withstand the stress, then all along the fault line the rocks will move."

The quake likely occurred about 10 kilometres beneath the ocean floor, Booth said, causing the huge, step-like protrusion on the sea bed and the resulting tsunami.



click link for more...

[TexKat]