Indian Ocean Earthquake.

[Major Stare]

Just want to say what terrible news is emerging from this devistating event.

Death toll now passing 80,000 with the potential of 100,000.

The tv pictures get more shocking every day.

I pray for those who have lost and are missing family and friends.

Latest BBC news

   

[nlash]

Truly shocking! We are waiting to hear from a member in the Warks area who was on a diving trip in the Maldives at the time of the disaster. Everything is crossed for his safety.

[Major Stare]

My parents too are waiting for news on friends in Sri Lanka.

Has anyone made a donation?

[Mark Stanton]

Someone I know has family out in Sri Lanka - thankfully all her family are fine and live inland to the mid/north of the island - apparently things are very bleak in the south coastal regions as there is not much left of the general infrastructure - a great deal of services have been washed out    

[the bear]

Just about to make one.

It makes you think really.

In the garage I have a car that has no purpose but to give me fun and these people have lost everything. To see that little girl with her face rotting away while her brother can only watch makes me choke.

Guys, we have got to make the Charity Blat (see other thread) work, without doing something, going out in my car just wont be the same.

[mad lon]

It was just too big to mention.

Spooky thing is...if my memory serves me right.Last boxing day 40,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Iran and there was hardly a mention.

Yes I am sending in a donation again.

Goverment sending £15,000,000.....How many cruise missiles is that?

    don't usually talk politics,must be p********  

[neilwillis]

Truly terrible tragedy.   What can we say?

[JasonR]

It is truely awful.  In the past I have spent a fair amount of time in the region.  I do a lot of scuba diving so the Indian Ocean offers a lot of appeal.  I have a trip booked to the Maledives in February -  given the circumstances whether we can go or not seems irrelevant.

We got married in Sri Lanka in 2000.  I found out today that all the staff of the hotel we got married at are ok, which given the circumstances really is good news.

I donated some money today, somewhere along the line I hope it makes a difference to somebody.

Given the scale of this disaster I think all the major charities are going to be stretched to the limits over the next few weeks/months/years.  It is going to take major government co-orperation to help to region get back on it's feet again.  

Hopefully once Mr Blair returns from his holiday the UK can offer it's full support  

[Barry Ashcroft]

Listening to the appeal on radio 2 in the garage they were saying how much difference £50 donated would do like rebuild somebodys home with my situation new car and just paying of the ex £50 seems like nothing will probably spend more getting p******** new years eve so I will be donating £50 I think those of us with these toys in the garage can afford this so get your wallets out!

Barry

[Gromit]

It funny but when we invaded Iraq there was very little mention of the money it would cost and yet know when something as terrible as this happens the government start off by saying their going to give a measly £1 million to the relief fund, and only after being cajoled by people have decided to raise it to £15 million.

Personally i`d rather see our taxpayers money being spent on something that really needs it, like the relief agencies helping out in Asia, rather than some pointless war that`ll just mean unnecessary loss of life on both sides.

Have`nt see much of our glorious PM on the telly either saying what he`s going to do, but give him a chance to show off what a good little boy he is to Dubya and you can`t get him off the screen.

Sorry to have a rant but some people really have got thier priorities wrong.

I wish anyone who has friends/relatives out in the affected area well and hope that they`ll recieve positive news soon. My thoughts are with you all.

Phil

[jamie]

Mmmmmmmm

have Got some friends that are diving instructors in the Maldives only get e mails from the 3 times a year they move around the world doing that job ? just hope they where else where.

I just feel even how terrible and bad it on the scale of it i think its to big to help where do you start to help?  don’t think ya pound will go no where.

wish there was an answer.  some of these place have been having cival wars etc. they always seam to find the money to buy guns,wepons etc but not look after there own in times of need.

poiltics ! to involved for a simple brain like mine.

jamie

[Richgm]

Words can't discribe what the people out there must have gone/be going through.

The scale of the area affected makes the mind boggle. Along with the fact that the number dead is greater than the population of Tamworth where I live.

One of the guy's I work with was flying out to the Maledives on Boxing day. Guess he counts himself luck.

[ChrisF]

It's absolutely terrible and I can't find words to express the shock and horror.

Both Tam and I made a donation today...very sad  

[stu999]

My Mrs' uncle was in Indonesia when it happened. He was woken by water thrashing against his hotel window. He was on the second floor...

He has only had a very brief conversation with his Dad so far, but he described a scene of total devastation, and the frustration of not being able to help.

He is fine (but obviously shaken). Positive news for us at least. My fingers are crossed for others  

[geelhoed]

My brother was on a ship at the indian coast. They knew about the earthquake but still decided to enter the harbour. There the waterlevel dropped and the had to take down the gangway and lengthen the ropes. 15 Minutes later the wave came and it crashed over the ship. It got thrown against the wall and some ropes broke. Then they decided to get out of the harbour to deeper water where they should have stayed in the first place.

He's ok and we're glad about it but I feel for the victims and their families!