Brave New World

The quake, the most powerful for 40 years, came a year to the day after a temblor in the Iranian city of Bam killed over 30,000 people.

Sunday's quake also sent waves some 7,000 kilomtres (4,000 miles) across the Indian Ocean, drowning a handful of people on Africa's east coast and prompting authorities to evacuate beaches and seaside villages.

http://unforseeable.blogspot.com/ provided some excellent links and a spontaneous reaction. I fell upon it blog jogging. The world reports its news differently these days! I read , too, the BBC news was getting updates and information directly from people emailing them from the crisis areas.

The European Union on Sunday committed 3 million euros (US$4 million) in emergency aid to help victims of the massive earthquake and tsunamis that hit coastal communities in several south Asian nations.

Two Russian Il-76 transport planes will leave in the next few days for the region carrying tents, other supplies and rescue personnel, a spokesman for Russia's emergencies ministry told the Interfax news agency.
Russia was preparing to provide aid to Sri Lanka andIndonesia, the ministry official, Viktor Beltsov, said.
A Russian representative would also fly to the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Sunday to take part in a UN-sponsored meeting of experts to discuss the requirements for international aid, he added.
"This UN group will assess the destruction from the earthquake and tidal waves in south Asia and determine the needs for international humanitarian aid," the official said. (***)

"Let us pray for the victims of this enormous tragedy and assure them of our solidarity for all those who suffer, while we hope that the international community acts to bring relief to the stricken populations," the pontiff said, speaking from his studio window overlooking the square.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=
20041227042411&irec=0

Australia is preparing emergency aid for the Asian nations struck by the tsunamis as it tries to locate a number of missing citizens in the disaster zone.
The Federal Government has committed $10 million to the relief effort and will review that figure as more information about the devastation unfolds.
The Australian Red Cross has also launched an emergency appeal.
It has established a phone hotline for donations on 1-800-811-700.
Donations and details can also be found on the Red Cross website, www.redcross.org.au.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1272585.htm


Adelaide man survives tsunami. 27/12/2004. ABC News Online

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1272711.htm]
Last Update: Monday, December 27, 2004. 1:00pm (AEDT)

Adelaide man survives tsunami

An Adelaide man missing in Phuket after the tsunami has been found alive.
A spokeswoman for the family of Trevor Picking has told the ABC he was found in a hospital about one hour ago.
His wife and children are travelling to the hospital and his injuries are not known.

© 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation


WASHINGTON (Agencies): The U.S. Geological Survey on Sunday revised the magnitude of an earthquake registered west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra upward to 8.9 on the Richter scale, AFP reported.