Still remember the devastation Mother Nature caused during this day of last year, 2004? Yes, it’s the fearful tsunami created by the mammoth earthquake under the Indian Ocean. What can I say, it was the worst natural disaster I’ve seen in my life, surpassing the earthquake in Tokyo 1994 n the cyclones that hit Southeastern US this year.

The Sumatra-Andaman earthquake occurred at 07:58:53 local time under the Indian Ocean n generated a tsunami that took away approximately 275,000 of lives, making it one of the deadliest disaster in history. The 9.15 magnitude earthquake lasted for more close to 10minutes when most major earthquakes last no more than a few seconds; it caused the entire planet to vibrate at least a few centimetres.

The earthquake originated in the Indian Ocean north of Simeulue Island, off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The resulting tsunami devastated the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India, Thailand n other countries with waves up to 30m. It caused serious damage n deaths as far as the east coast ofAfrica, with the furthest recorded death due to the tsunami occurring at Port Elizabeth in South Africa, 8,000km away from the epicentre.

The worst hit area has to be Banda Aceh, Indonesia, with 500 bodies a day were still being found in Feb 05. The true final toll may never be known due to bodies having been swept out to sea. The tsunami destroyed massive properties in the areas hit too. Holiday resorts in Phuket n Khao Lak, Thailand, which are flattened by the waves, are still under rebuilding now.

The earthquake was the fourth most powerful recorded since 1900. The deadliest earthquakes since 1900 were the Tangshan, China earthquake of 1976, in which at least 255,000 were killed, the earthquake of 1927 in Xining, Qinghai, China (200,000), the Great Kanto Earthquake which struck Tokyo in 1923 (143,000), and theGansu, China earthquake of 1920 (200,000). The deadliest known earthquake in history occurred in 1556 in Shaanxi, China, with an estimated death toll of 830,000, though figures from this time period may not be reliable

The aftermath of the disaster was not any better than the tsunami itself. A great deal of humanitarian aid was needed due to widespread damage of the infrastructure, shortages of food n water, n economic damage. Epidemics were of special concern, due to the high population and tropical climate of the affected areas. The main concern of humanitarian n government agencies was to provide sanitation facilities n fresh drinking water to contain the spread of diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, dysentery n typhoid. In the days after the event, significant effort was spent in burying bodies hurriedly for fear of disease.

Nations all over the world provided over US$3b in aid for damaged regions, with the Australian government pledging US$819.9m(including a US$760.6m aid package for Indonesia, the German Government offering US$660m, the Japanese Government offering US$500m, the Canadian Government offering CA$425m, the Norwegian Government offering US$170m, the U.S. Government offering US$35m initially, n the World bank offering US$250m. According to USAID, the US has pledged additional funds in long-term U.S. support to help the tsunami victims rebuild their lives. On February 9, President Bush asked Congress to increase the U.S. commitment to a total of $950 million.

I almost went to Aceh in Indonesia to help out in the humanitarian aid too. But due to some complications, I wasn’t able to make it there. Still remember during last year’s Christmas Day, I was having a seafood dinner with my kayaking mates by the East Coast Park Beach. Our table was juz beside the coast, n around 7pm, I started seeing unusually high waves crashing along the shore. I don’t know if it’s coincidence or what, but the sea was exceptionally choppy that night. When I woke up the next morning, news on the TV shocked me instantly.

It was kinda traumatizing. Many Singaporeans lost their lives holidaying in the resorts over in Thailand. Some were never found. Singapore is really lucky to have escaped such a disaster, all thanks to its excellent geographical location. We’re being protected by the Indonesia Sumatra Island, otherwise, the destruction would be devastating. Some felt the tremors too, n judging by the videos I’ve seen, the shaking of the HDB flats over here were pretty violent.

Fast forward to today, there were news that the next predicted tsunami may hit Singapore n Malaysia. Gosh, please don’t scare me. I can’t even freaking run now, I think I’ll juz drown. A few weeks back, there were warnings that a tsunami will hit South Thailand. That created a massive panic n everyone started fleeing for their lives, only to realize it’s a false alarm.

There has been a lot of “activities” reported by the Geologists in the tectonic plates around the South East Asia region. N as a geography student myself, I know this symbolizes more to come from Mother Nature.

Let’s pray that a disaster of such magnitude will not happen again. Check out this video i had put up.