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SE Asia tragedy question....

23 replies

Eaney · 31/12/2004 14:13

I heard on the radio a few days ago that the earthquake had been picked up by the countries that border the pacific rim. The American Army apparently notified their air base in the area so that they could evacuate. They argued that they did not notify any of the countries that have been affected because there was no formal process to do so. I have not heard this mentioned on any news item since. This plays on my mind a lot as I think so many deaths could have been prevented.

Has anyone else heard this?

OP posts:
kalex · 31/12/2004 14:16

I heard this too. But is has been given very little news coverage.

Caligulights · 31/12/2004 14:18

I've heard this. Somebody on News 24 was going on about it, but I haven't heard anything since.

I can't believe that the lack of a "formal process" could be used as an excuse not to warn people. Even if they didn't realise just how enormous it was going to be.

JanH · 31/12/2004 14:28

I found this in the Times:

Can't find anything else yet.

JanH · 31/12/2004 14:31

From the Indie, 29/12:

Being forewarned could not have prevented flooding, though, could it? Apparently there is some sort of flood barrier around the island anyway (can't remember where I read that though.)

tiredemma · 31/12/2004 14:32

i have read today that the thai govt knew of the earthquake but didnt think that there would that much of a tsunami from it and didnt want to run the risk of being sued by the tour operators for informing tourists and creating a panic in resorts.
they obviously didnt realise just how big the tsunami would be.

how awful... i have also heard about the us army knowing, if its true then its disgraceful

JanH · 31/12/2004 14:41

From the Telegraph, 29/12:

tiredemma · 31/12/2004 14:45

i also saw that someone did try to inform india about the tsunami but they sent the message to the old science minister who was "out of office" and not to the new science minister who i suppose could of acted on it.
i just find it amazing that nobody was forewarned, it would of taken 3 hours from the moment of the earthquake up until the first waves hit india and thailand.

JanH · 31/12/2004 14:52

But tsunamis are not visible on the surface of the ocean so they can't be tracked by shipping or satellite, and their paths are not predictable. I know what you mean, emma, it is very upsetting to think that people have died who could have been saved, but without a reliable network already set up so that the right people would be informed and could easily pass the information on, it just couldn't happen.

They are talking about an Indian Ocean system now like the Pacific Rim one; although it seems like bolting the stable door at the moment, who knows if this might happen again?

JanH · 31/12/2004 14:55

BBC News on India's proposed new system.

The last bit is interesting in this context:

tallulah · 31/12/2004 17:42

I thought it was odd that no-one appeared to know this was coming, when I understood there was an office somewhere responsible for tracking seismic energy.

I saw a small piece in the paper today that said they knew in Hawaii that it was coming but didn't manage to inform anyone in time. They reckon the animals all knew.

happymerryberries · 31/12/2004 17:48

You cannot 'predict' an earth quake. You can see the early stages, but these may or may not culmanate in a large earthquake. The chances of predicting a tsunami is even more remote

spacedonkey · 31/12/2004 17:49

I've been wondering about this too. It's hideous isn't it. I was also appalled by George Dubya's speech bleating on about how generous the US is. Bastards. Think how much they've spent on the iraq war. Grrr

emmatmg · 31/12/2004 17:56

SD, I read somewhere on here, that the 35 million the the US has gave would last 4 hours if the spent it in Iraq. 4 HOURS.

Priorities totally fucked up if you ask me. Bush you are a prick!

KangaSantaMummy · 31/12/2004 18:00

what I don't understand is why they couldn't just put out a warning on CNN as they deffo had CNN in MALDIVES

Even if it just said stay off the beaches and out of the sea it would have helped some people.

happymerryberries · 31/12/2004 18:21

Just heared an expert saying that because there are no sea floor sensors in the Indian Ocean (as they have in the Pacific) they simply didn't know that there was going to be a Tsunami.

spacedonkey · 31/12/2004 18:36

4 hours - that is SO depressing

and as for tony blair sunning himself in egypt while all this goes on - grrr

zebra · 31/12/2004 18:38

Claire Short was on the Radio yesterday saying that there's no need/reason for Blair to come back from Egypt. And she is not exactly one to quickly rise to his defence.

The worst affected province in Indonesia (est. 100,000 dead) is isolated from the rest of the world because of civil war there, anyway.

spacedonkey · 31/12/2004 18:40

I disagree, I think it appears frivolous to carry on his holiday when a disaster of such magnitude has happened and he should have cut his holiday short. Grrr.

KangaSantaMummy · 31/12/2004 18:40

I wonder how much help would be given by the governments if a politician or family or friends had been injured or killed?

If Blair or Bush had been there on holiday?

spacedonkey · 31/12/2004 18:42

exactly kanga

imo this is a massive wake up call to the whole world to start getting our priorities right

emmatmg · 31/12/2004 18:43

blimey, kanga, can you imagine?
it would be a very different story

emmatmg · 31/12/2004 18:45

I bet Bush wouldn't be so stingy if the election was still to happen either!

How the F*ck did that man get that job?

happymerryberries · 31/12/2004 18:52

Britain has now raised its donation to £50 million, and the US government to $350 million

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