Huge earthquake in Iran leaves hundreds dead, thousands homeless. Heartbreaking slide show. The US best step-up and help them. Red Cross set up a donations page.
‘People need help’: Iran hospitals swamped by earthquake victims
(Photo: Handout / Reuters)
Overcrowded hospitals in northwestern Iran struggled to cope with thousands of earthquake victims on Sunday and rescuers raced to reach remote villages after two powerful quakes killed nearly 300 people.
Thousands huddled in makeshift camps or slept in the street after Saturday’s quakes in fear of more aftershocks, 60 of which had already struck. A lack of tents and other supplies left them exposed to the night chill, one witness told Reuters.
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear crisis was a preventable disaster resulting from “collusion” among the government, regulators and the plant operator, an expert panel said on Thursday, wrapping up an inquiry into the worst nuclear accident in 25 years.
The report notes that while the tsunami (and, with emphasis, the earthquake) had an effect, what worsened the situation was TEPCO giving “lip service” to safety, but putting a heavier emphasis on profits instead. The report also notes that there may be an active fault under the Ohi plant, which controversially had a reactor restart there just a few days ago.
Five dead from the 6.0 magnitude quake: The death toll “could have been much worse,” according to Italian earthquake expert Giovanni Gregori. The Emilia Romagna region was hit on Sunday morning; around 50 historic buildings were damaged. Another earthquake that struck the L’Aquila region three years ago killed 300 people. (Photo by Italy/Reuters) source
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I’ve been looking at the pictures on TV all day and still can’t believe we lived through it. There was a power cut and no heating, and I couldn’t call anyone after my baby was born because the phones were down. And we didn’t even know what was going on in the nuclear plant.Japanese earthquake survivor Kaori Naiji • Discussing the deadly incident, which took place one year ago today. Naiji’s daughter, Wakana, was born during the earthquake, which unleashed a major tsunami on the country. Thousands spent the day mourning the lost and protesting the scene at Fukushima, which left the country on eggshells for months afterwards. What do you remember most about the period? Do you expect to see anything like it again in your lifetime?
» Get ready Tuesday morning: In honor of Missouri’s earthquake awareness month and timed in honor of the New Madrid Earthquake, millions will take part in a giant earthquake drill that starts at 10:15 CST. Will you take part? You never know when another earthquake might hit.
» A tsunami warning is in effect: The earthquake struck shortly after midnight local time, some 262 miles off the coast of Banda Aceh, Sumatra. There are, so far, no reports of casualties or damages, but Indonesian officials have confirmed the tsunami alert. The caution is entirely sensible; it was in late 2004 that a large earthquake triggered a catastrophic tsunami which struck Indonesia, killing nearly a quarter-million people.
More island for your buck: Due to recent underwater volcano activity, another Canary Island has been added to the chain. Islanders are already trying to think up names for the new piece of land, built from magma that spewed over 65 feet high. On Saturday, the area was hit by a 4.3-magnitude earthquake, which is when the underwater volcano started erupting. What would you name the new island? Does it have to be a bird? Tweety Island would be too obvious, right? source
Luckiest. Newborn. Ever. The Turkey quake has killed at least 360 people and injured more than 1,300, but those numbers are still super-fluid. In devastating situations like this quake, you at times need a reminder that sometimes hope is still around. This newborn, named Azra Karaduma, is a huge symbol of that hope. This 14-day-old baby was discovered in the rubble of a collapsed building in the city of Ercis — ALIVE. “Given the work conditions and hardships of rescue teams, the best prize is to bring people back to life,” said Ercan Toprak, who led the rescue team that saved the young girl. “We feel the joy of connecting her back to life and hope her mother and grandmother will also be saved very shortly.” We hope so too. (photo via Reuters)
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‘Many dead’ as powerful earthquake rocks Turkey
Rescue workers try to save people trapped under debris after an earthquake in a village near the eastern Turkish city of Van Oct. 23. Turkey’s Kandilli Observatory estimates that some 500 to 1,000 people were killed in a powerful earthquake in southeast Turkey’s Van province on Sunday. Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay told reporters some 10 buildings had collapsed in Van city and around 25-30 buildings collapsed in the nearby district of Ercis. (Reuters)
Yikes; hope the best for our Turkish brethren this morning.
Ironically, it was on the same day that millions of Californians took part in a statewide earthquake drill.
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