about tsunamis
Contrary to public perception, a tsunami is not typically a single monstrous wave. Usually, a series of giant waves roll ashore during the course of two or three hours.
“A lot of the casualties are not from drowning - they’re from blunt trauma from people being smashed up by debris,” Dudley said. [source]
- - - - -
If you imagine a tsunami to be merely a scaled-up version of the waves that extreme surfers ride at spots like Hawaii’s Banzai Pipeline or the infamous Maverick’s in California, think again. A tsunami can cross the ocean faster than a jet aircraft, and hit land with a force that makes an atomic bomb look like a firecracker. [source]
a tsunami in southeast asia last weekend may have killed more than 20,000 people. it was the result of a 9.0 earthquake that struck off the coast of indonesia. [news]
UPDATE–december 30: the death toll has reached 120,000 and is expected to climb still more. donations can be made securely online at http://www.lds.org/humanitarian. 100% of all donations will go directly to those in need.
Leave a Reply
note: by commenting, you indicate that you have read and accept all-encompassingly's comment policy. please print it and keep a copy of the document in your wall safe along with your living will or advance directive.