Earthquakes and Tsunamis: A deadly combination
Now that the reports are coming in about the devastating effect of yesterday's tsunamis, it is clear that this is joins the ranks of one of the worst natural catastrophes in the last hundred years. This could be comparable to or worse than the Krakatoa eruption where tsunamis killed more than 40000 people or the earthquake in Bam exactly a year ago where more than 26000 people perished and may have much worse long term impact.
[Update Dec 28th: It looks like it will be much worse than these two events. Given the amount of people still unaccounted for and the inaccessiblity of some of the affected areas will could bring the number to over 100'000 :-( which would rank it among the worst quakes. Update Dec 30rd: The number is now over 100'000 :-(]
Let's hope that people can get fresh water quickly, find their missing loved ones safe, tsunami early warning systems get installed in all areas, and that the long-term effects (salination of agricultural lands, increased risk of diseases, heavily damaged infrastructures etc.) will be having less of an impact than currently feared. And let's hope that we do not get worse tsunamis and that the impact on the Earth's rotation [Update Jan 16th: it indeed also impacts the speed] is just a scientific curiosity...
Our thoughts are with the people that are suffering through this. What a sad way to end this year.
Here are some links to places that will accept donations and have more information (and make sure that you get your employer to match your contribution):
And here is an interesting survivor account [added Dec 30rd].
[updated Dec 27: added link to Slate Magazine's explainer on impact on Earth rotation]
[updated Dec 28: added link to NY Times donation list and http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/]
[updated Dec 29: added Amazon link]