Sad Sad Sad........
I’ve been reading blogs and almost every blog has touched on the recent quake in Sumatra, which has resulted in those massive tsunamis (not tidal waves!!!) which had caused massive death and destruction through out South Asia. I guess its now my turn to give my 2 cents worth.
I must admit that I did not read every report on the disaster that has just struck us – I merely glanced through them. I got the rough picture, massive earthquake in North Sumatra (8.9 on the Richter scale), 60000 dead and counting? Well, it is certainly a natural disaster that ‘shocked’ the world, and what a way to end 2004. I must admit 2004 hasn’t been a good year (not for me personally), but this disaster has indeed been the final straw for many.
I admit that the whole world was shocked by the rupture, who could have predicted it? And now, many are talking about ways to set up a tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean. That’s a good initiative, but I hope it doesn’t end up like most international co-operatives… The immediate concern is to rescue the victims, prevent the spread of infectious diseases (especially in the poorly developed regions like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India). Of course, the international community must think of ways not just to rebuild these places, but also to install a system that can withstand similar shocks in future. I mean, once bitten, twice shy right?
At the end of the day, Singaporeans should be lucky that Singapore is sheltered on all 4 sides. I mean, the nearest that we can ever experience of an earthquake is just tremors. Just a tweeny weeny bit of shaking, not even moving (think of Japan and Taiwan…). We got no hurricanes as well (duh, we are right smack at the equator!), and no tidal waves can reach us (our neighbors will be helping us take the damage if there ever are any such huge waves). We must be thankful! Where else can we find a place on Earth that is shielded from all these natural disasters. I guess that’s something which Singapore will always give us – the feeling of safety and security that I doubt you will find on any other place on Earth.
I must admit that I did not read every report on the disaster that has just struck us – I merely glanced through them. I got the rough picture, massive earthquake in North Sumatra (8.9 on the Richter scale), 60000 dead and counting? Well, it is certainly a natural disaster that ‘shocked’ the world, and what a way to end 2004. I must admit 2004 hasn’t been a good year (not for me personally), but this disaster has indeed been the final straw for many.
I admit that the whole world was shocked by the rupture, who could have predicted it? And now, many are talking about ways to set up a tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean. That’s a good initiative, but I hope it doesn’t end up like most international co-operatives… The immediate concern is to rescue the victims, prevent the spread of infectious diseases (especially in the poorly developed regions like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India). Of course, the international community must think of ways not just to rebuild these places, but also to install a system that can withstand similar shocks in future. I mean, once bitten, twice shy right?
At the end of the day, Singaporeans should be lucky that Singapore is sheltered on all 4 sides. I mean, the nearest that we can ever experience of an earthquake is just tremors. Just a tweeny weeny bit of shaking, not even moving (think of Japan and Taiwan…). We got no hurricanes as well (duh, we are right smack at the equator!), and no tidal waves can reach us (our neighbors will be helping us take the damage if there ever are any such huge waves). We must be thankful! Where else can we find a place on Earth that is shielded from all these natural disasters. I guess that’s something which Singapore will always give us – the feeling of safety and security that I doubt you will find on any other place on Earth.
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