Monday, May 19, 2008
Deadly May 12 2008 - China Sichuan
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake (Chinese: 四川大地震), at a magnitude 8.0 Ms/ 7.9 Mw, occurred at 14:28:01.42 CST (06:28:01.42 UTC) on 12 May 2008 in Sichuan province of China. In China, it was named the Wenchuan earthquake (Chinese: 汶川大地震), after the earthquake's epicenter in Wenchuan County in Sichuan province. The epicenter was 80 kilometres (50 mi) west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, with a depth of 19 kilometres (12 mi). The earthquake was felt as far away as Beijing (1,500 km away) and Shanghai (1,700 km away), where office buildings swayed with the tremor. The earthquake was also felt in nearby countries.
Official figures (as of May 19, 12:00 CST) state that 34,073 are confirmed dead, including 33,570 in Sichuan province, and 245,108 injured. The Chinese government warned that the death toll could soar to 50,000. Tens of thousands are missing, approximately 14,000 of them buried, and eight provinces were affected. The earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless. It was the deadliest and strongest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed over 240,000 people.
The State Council declared a three-day period of national mourning for the quake victims starting from May 19th, 2008; The Chinese National Flag and Regional Flags of Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR were raised at half mast. At 14:28 CST on May 19, 2008, a week after the earthquake, the Chinese public observed silence to express mourning; vehicles, vessels, trains, and air-defense alarms sounded, followed by a 3-minute moment of silence. The Ningbo Organizing Committee of Beijing Olympic torch relay announced that the relay will be suspended for these three days.
Property Damage - Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide reported official estimates of insurers' losses at US$1 billion from the earthquake; estimated total damages exceed US$20 billion. It values Chengdu, Sichuan Province’s capital city of 4.5 million people, at around US$115 billion, with only a small portion covered by insurance.
AfterStock - Fifty-two major aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 4.4 to 6.0, were recorded within 72 hours of the main tremor. - Credited to Wikipedia
Official figures (as of May 19, 12:00 CST) state that 34,073 are confirmed dead, including 33,570 in Sichuan province, and 245,108 injured. The Chinese government warned that the death toll could soar to 50,000. Tens of thousands are missing, approximately 14,000 of them buried, and eight provinces were affected. The earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless. It was the deadliest and strongest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed over 240,000 people.
The State Council declared a three-day period of national mourning for the quake victims starting from May 19th, 2008; The Chinese National Flag and Regional Flags of Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR were raised at half mast. At 14:28 CST on May 19, 2008, a week after the earthquake, the Chinese public observed silence to express mourning; vehicles, vessels, trains, and air-defense alarms sounded, followed by a 3-minute moment of silence. The Ningbo Organizing Committee of Beijing Olympic torch relay announced that the relay will be suspended for these three days.
Property Damage - Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide reported official estimates of insurers' losses at US$1 billion from the earthquake; estimated total damages exceed US$20 billion. It values Chengdu, Sichuan Province’s capital city of 4.5 million people, at around US$115 billion, with only a small portion covered by insurance.
AfterStock - Fifty-two major aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 4.4 to 6.0, were recorded within 72 hours of the main tremor. - Credited to Wikipedia
Deadly May 2nd 2008 - Myanmar
Cyclone Nargis (JTWC designation: 01B, also known as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis) was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the deadliest natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma (officially known as Myanmar). The cyclone made landfall in the country on May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 80,000 fatalities with a further 56,000 people still missing. However, Labutta Township alone was reported to have 80,000 dead and some have estimated the death toll may be well over 100,000. Damage is estimated at over $10 billion (USD).
Relief efforts were slowed for political reasons as Burma's military rulers initially resisted aid. U.S. President George W. Bush said that an angry world should condemn the way Burma's military rulers are handling the aftermath of a devastating cyclone. Burma's ruling party finally accepted aid a few days later from the U.S after India's request was accepted. Furthermore, Burmese militants were found to be selling aid to the highest bidder, and Myanmar's junta warned on May 15th that legal action would be taken against people who trade or hoard international aid.
The cyclone name "Nargis" , is an Urdu word meaning daffodil. The first named storm of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Nargis developed on April 27 in the central area of Bay of Bengal. Initially it tracked slowly northwestward and, encountering favorable conditions, it quickly strengthened. Dry air weakened the cyclone on April 29, though after beginning a steady eastward motion Nargis rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of at least 165 km/h (105 mph) on May 2; the Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph). The cyclone moved ashore in the Ayeyarwady Division of Burma near peak intensity and, after passing near the major city of Yangon (Rangoon), the storm gradually weakened until dissipating near the border of Burma and Thailand. - Credited To Wikipedia
Relief efforts were slowed for political reasons as Burma's military rulers initially resisted aid. U.S. President George W. Bush said that an angry world should condemn the way Burma's military rulers are handling the aftermath of a devastating cyclone. Burma's ruling party finally accepted aid a few days later from the U.S after India's request was accepted. Furthermore, Burmese militants were found to be selling aid to the highest bidder, and Myanmar's junta warned on May 15th that legal action would be taken against people who trade or hoard international aid.
The cyclone name "Nargis" , is an Urdu word meaning daffodil. The first named storm of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Nargis developed on April 27 in the central area of Bay of Bengal. Initially it tracked slowly northwestward and, encountering favorable conditions, it quickly strengthened. Dry air weakened the cyclone on April 29, though after beginning a steady eastward motion Nargis rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of at least 165 km/h (105 mph) on May 2; the Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph). The cyclone moved ashore in the Ayeyarwady Division of Burma near peak intensity and, after passing near the major city of Yangon (Rangoon), the storm gradually weakened until dissipating near the border of Burma and Thailand. - Credited To Wikipedia
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Introduction
An introduction.
The reason for the blog’s existence is to lend a helping hand to victims affected by natural disasters over the world. While we do feel sorry for these people, many a time, we still think the world revolves about us and we fail to appreciate the littlest things in life.
I intend to put together a stall at a flea market as and when needed, to do my bit to help raise funds for victims of these countries. I will sell items donated by people at low prices, and give 100% of the proceeds to associations such as the Singapore Red Cross Society.
This movement rooted from the idea of recycling items that people do not required. Through resale, we give these items a new lease of life, and at the same time, create awareness of what’s happening around us and extend help to victims trapped in the laws of nature.
Do check this blog for updates and how you can make a difference. :)
The reason for the blog’s existence is to lend a helping hand to victims affected by natural disasters over the world. While we do feel sorry for these people, many a time, we still think the world revolves about us and we fail to appreciate the littlest things in life.
I intend to put together a stall at a flea market as and when needed, to do my bit to help raise funds for victims of these countries. I will sell items donated by people at low prices, and give 100% of the proceeds to associations such as the Singapore Red Cross Society.
This movement rooted from the idea of recycling items that people do not required. Through resale, we give these items a new lease of life, and at the same time, create awareness of what’s happening around us and extend help to victims trapped in the laws of nature.
Do check this blog for updates and how you can make a difference. :)
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