Tsunami Death Toll Jumps Over 120,000 Yahoo(Reuters)

[RawMaterials]

Health Ministry sources told Reuters just under 80,000 had died in Indonesia's northern Aceh province that was close to the undersea quake, some 28,000 more than previously announced. Two sources said the toll would be officially announced soon.

Aceh, already suffering a prolonged conflict, has emerged as the "ground zero" of Sunday's great earthquake just off its coast. It triggered monstrous waves all the way to Africa that killed thousands more in India, Thailand and elsewhere.

Sri Lanka, severely afflicted, raised its toll on Thursday by just under 3,000 people to 27,268.

Millions of people on Indian Ocean shores scrambled for food and clean water as disease, thirst, hunger and panic threatened survivors of the world's most lethal natural disaster since a cyclone in Bangladesh killed 138,000 people in 1991.

more..

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=1&u=/nm/20041230/ts_nm/quake_dc

[Warpy]

1. We'll never know, not really

The area that has borne the brunt of the aftershocks, most over 5 and one as strong as 7.3, are the Nicobar and Andaman island groups. This area is largely undeveloped and tribal because of its remote location. There was a tourist industry, but nothing near the scale of that in Thailand.

I can't imagine that much is left there.

[RawMaterials]

3. Lets see worse snow in 25 years in Ohio, rain and tornado's

in California, biggest earthquake in 40 years in about pacific, biggest tsunami in 40 years.

wonder whats going on, maybe the someones a little pissed about us humans and what were doing to the world

[indepat]

5. Natural disasters in other parts of the world result from God punishing

them for their iniquities, but we can take great comfort that America is impervious to such disasters, is safe from God's wrath because our nation has a veritable plethora of reichous, holy, and sanctimomous followers of Jesus and his teachings and is led by a man of God who does his will.

[jdj]

21. I keep saying global warming, and I think that the thing is

that if you say this it makes fundies even more determined to rape Alaska and drive SUV's and deforest everything...they want to feel they are doing their part to contribute to global warming so that they can "help" bring on the rapture.

It's like a gesture of charity to Jesus to drive an SUV. Come on Down!

[RawMaterials]

36. Thats why God bless America always struck me as

as$ back words, if anything shouldn't it be America bless god.

[indepat]

48. Serious food for thought

[pandemic_1918]

80. Fatal Flu in Sri Lanka

I think that the post-tsunami fatal flu cases in Sri Lanka are serious food for thought.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01010502/Post_Tsunami_Flu_Fatalities_Sri_Lanka.html

[DivinBreuvage]

66. Impervious, hell! Too many liberals, gays, and other sinners

When bad things happen to America, it's because of them.

[indepat]

71. Maybe a small-scale disaster as a reminder Pat Robertson will claim

is punishment for the wickedness of liberal-types.

[chelaque liberal]

9. Don't forget the hurricanes...

[momzno1]

10. this just in - Snow in the United Arab Emirates

for the first time..... EVER

http://in.news.yahoo.com/041230/137/2iqxl.html

[Cicero]

24. NOT first time ever... read the story

They said it is indeed rare, only happening in the mountain regions every 20 or 30 years, but it has happened before. Their largest mountain also has snow continuously at the topmost levels.

Rare, certainly, and worthy of comment as such. "First time... EVER"? No way.

Later,

[brainshrub]

39. It snowed in South Florida in 1976.

I remember it as a kid. We were so excited.

So yes, I can beleive that it would snow in Arabia.

[pandemic_1918]

81. Questions on Fatal Flu in Sri Lanka

Lots of questions on fatal flu in Sri Lanka

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01010504/Flu_Fatalities_Sri_Lanka_Questions.html

Conditions favor this getting very out of control very quickly.

[Pithy Cherub]

2. This keeps getting achingly worse.

The people of all of the affected areas have my deepest respect for the sheer survival skills they are showing in the most primative of conditions. More aid, faster! * better not say we have turned the corner...

[Nomad559]

4. WARNING - GRAPHIC

http://www.blaat.co.uk/Numb1/sa/ruumiita4ft.jpg

[jayfish]

7. I Saw That Picture Yesterday,...

it's at a higher resolution, and I have to say it is one of the most horrific images I have ever viewed. I think the next time an American media-whore asks what it's like with to be around all of the dead bodies, they should have that picture shoved in their face.

BTW, I'm glad you only provided the link and did not post the pic. itself.

Jay

[uppityperson]

28. That is one of the worst pictures I've seen

Couldn't finish downloading it once it got about 1/2 way done. I have few words to share. I almost shut off the news after 9/11 and again after the Iraq invasion and then the election. This is too much, though I must keep checking the news for other things. Off to give more money.

[Lorien]

40. I don't think I can look at it after reading these posts

what does the picture show?

I wish I had money to donate. I haven't been paid by my main client in six months, and I'm having a hard time affording food for myself. I just wish there were something I could do.

[jayfish]

49. If You Don't Think You Can, DON'T!

It is everything you fear and possibly worse. You have an understanding of the tragedy, do not scar yourself.

Jay

[AllyCat]

60. I've just finished dinner and am not feeling well now--don't look

Dont' feel badly that you can't contribute. Thoughts, household donations, prayers if you are so inclined, and action in the days, weeks, and months to come as our nation's media turns to more important things like Britney Spears. :eyes:

[uppityperson]

64. what it shows

The first part to load at the top shows a long 2-3 story building with much damage to the first floor. Then it shows the beach in front of the building, with the shoreline curving around to the left. As it continues to load, more and more debris is on the shore, finally covering the entire shore way high. Problem is the many dead people in the debris. So, don't look. BBC showed a quick clip tonight of Aceh district of Indonesia that had another added thing happen yesterday morning. The tide brought in a raft of floating debris and another 1000 bodies. It is bad. People who survived the tsunami with only injuries are starting to die now from their injuries. 4-5 days without antibiotics. It is bad. Doctors without Borders is a good group to donate to.

[Ilsa]

11. Thank you for the link.

I don't know whether to be glad the media isn't showing this. On the one hand, I'd be calling them sensationalistic if they did, but denying the devastation if they didn't.

[jmcgowanjm]

13. You'll never see that in Time/Life Mag

And after seeing Brit interviewed 910amC
on CNN -

"Like a nuclear blast on the coastline from
at least Meulaboh North-
hundreds of thousands are just gone.
If you didn't know beforehand
that there were towns here..."

"You can barely make out foundations
and roads..."

A new est-at least 500000 perished
and climbing.

And my guess-the warships and
carriers (CVN Lincoln) are arriving to
keep the status quo, not to aid.

[jayfish]

15. This Video Shows The Power Of This Event...

better than any I have seen.

http://tsunami.nea-online.net/KATC.wmv

I can't see many more people than the ones in that house surviving. I'm nearly speechless.

Jay

[Slit Skirt]

29. I can't get link to work

[jayfish]

30. The Hosting Site Appears To Be Down.

Try again later. I will try to find another source in the meantime.

Jay

[jayfish]

31. Found!

http://home.earthlink.net/~ca902/KATC.wmv

Jay

[Slit Skirt]

34. thanks

sheer catastrophe.....speechless

[jayfish]

37. Remember This?

An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and Its Implications for United
States National Security
October 2003
By Peter Schwartz and Doug Randall

Summary
Full Report

<SNIP>
The report explores how such an abrupt climate change scenario could potentially
de-stabilize the geo-political environment, leading to skirmishes, battles, and even
war due to resource constraints such as:
1) Food shortages due to decreases in net global agricultural production
2) Decreased availability and quality of fresh water in key regions due to shifted
precipitation patters, causing more frequent floods and droughts
3) Disrupted access to energy supplies due to extensive sea ice and storminess
As global and local carrying capacities are reduced, tensions could mount around the
world, leading to two fundamental strategies: defensive and offensive. Nations with
the resources to do so may build virtual fortresses around their countries, preserving
resources for themselves. Less fortunate nations especially those with ancient
enmities with their neighbors, may initiate in struggles for access to food, clean
water, or energy. Unlikely alliances could be formed as defense priorities shift and
the goal is resources for survival rather than religion, ideology, or national honor.
This scenario poses new challenges for the United States, and suggests several steps
to be taken:
</SNIP>

It may not be coming about in the same manner but the effects may be the same.

Jay

[jmcgowanjm]

74. Exact same scenario w/ peakoil-Deffeyes, by TurkeyDay.2005

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/122904_current_situation.shtml

[Amaya]

19. Dear God

[KinkyDem]

20. That picture

was in the WP this AM. I am simply stunned. I cannot even begin to imagine.

[velvet]

25. That picture

Thank you for posting the link to it. It is chilling to think of the terror these people must have experienced. It makes me more aware of what the injured and bereft have been through.

[Eurobabe]

42. unfathomable

I think the death toll is going to top 250K when this is all over. I can't imagine anyone surviving that onslaught of water and not drowning from the force.

[AllyCat]

59. Oh that is just terrible!

I cannot imagine being the people who have to go through the horror of retrieving the bodies, here or anywhere.

No amount of money in the world can help them with the emotional effects of this disaster.

Does anyone know if Green Cross has been called here? Or do they only handle U.S. disasters?

[NorthernSpy]

68. that explains the frozen faces of the survivors

You know -- that perfectly blank stare that the survivors always seem to have in the newspaper pictures.

[JI7]

69. and considering those dead are their parents, kids,siblings

and other family and friends.

just imagine some people close to you and you were out together doing any normal thing and suddenly disaster strikes and the ones you love are among those dead in there. especially the people who have had their entire families killed including extended family so they don't even have uncles, aunts etc to go to.

[jmcgowanjm]

6. At least 5 million are w/o shelter

Kinda puts Jeff Probst/CBSSurvivor
in perspective.

CNN's Cooper inadvertantly talked about
infections-a Stomach wound infection
of Swedish boy who didn't tell
his Mom (missing her little
daughter BTW)- anyway, the wound,
not related to tsunami,
required surgery.

Now imagine at least 500000 open
sores like this boy's in the tropics.

[abburdlen]

8. The deaths are tragic

but it's for the living that my heartbreaks...



edit: image host

[Patiod]

17. I'm embarrassed to admit it

but this disaster was abstract to me during the first day or two afterwords - I couldn't get my head around it what had happened.

But then I heard an Indian mother being interviewed on the radio (either NPR or BBC, which has been great in their coverage). She was describing how her little girl hated the water, to the point where she always asked her mother to use less water when she was getting her hair washed. The mother then started crying, saying "all I can think about is how frightened she must have been." That did it - that made the whole thing real and human, vs. just the overwhelming numbers -- "80,000 dead" or "70,000 dead".

[abburdlen]

18. I don't think it is possible

for the human mind to comprehend this many deaths.

[pdxmom]

22. I agree

I can't imagine this many people and the horror that these people are experiencing. I've made sure that my teenage kids watch the film and interviews of this disaster. I want them to understand what has happened and hopefully take them out of their self-involved little world.

[donheld]

52. This tsunami trajedy is just very hard to fathom

120,000 dead is like a fairly good sized city entirely wiped out. It takes time for that to sink in.


BTW pdxmom welcome to DU

[rainbow4321]

43. Websites w/ video and survivor blogs

Here is a link that they mentioned on the news just now--has blogs and home video of the disaster.

http://waxy.org /

There was another one mentioned:

http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/

[pacifictiger]

62. the sad part is

that, if it had not have been for so many 'western' tourists affected in thailand and telling their survival stories, the mainstream news media may still not be reporting on this. Only now, 5 days later, are many americans beginning to comprehend the utter magnitude.

[indepat]

12. The catastrophic forces of nature now appear to have killed more in days

than have been killed in Iraq since it was invaded.

[doubleplusgood]

14. Yes

...but a year from now, when this horrific natural disaster is behind us, the U.S. "tsunami of greed & stupidity" will still be claiming thousands of lives in occupied Iraq.

[indepat]

47. That is a price all those who have supported this pre-emptive war seem too

willing to pay.

[Robbien]

16. from the BBC's Reporters log for Indonesia

Progress is painfully slow here, relief supplies barely trickling in. The regional capital is still desperately short of drinking-water, the streets clogged with corpses.

The logistics are daunting: one small airport to bring in aid, petrol scarce and key coastal roads blocked where the wave took out bridges. Indonesia's navy has sent ships to isolated communities on the west coast of this vast island, but the picture there is still unclear.

The town of Meulaboh, population 95,000, has been almost completely wiped out: the epicentre was just offshore. Across the whole region clean water must now be the main priority, followed by food and medical supplies. Hospitals here are overwhelmed, with infection spreading in the tropical heat.

[malaise]

23. Diego Garcia

Someone on another thread asked about this naval base.

The small Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia - home to a US naval base - escaped unharmed as it was forewarned by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4134485.stm

So couldn't they forewarn everyone else?

[slackmaster]

27. Warning requires infrastruction and organization

Regions need to have warning systems and evacuation plans already in place before a disaster hits.

Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean are historically rare. Only places that have been hit within peoples' memories are prepared for tsunamis. Crescent City, California is interesting. The town was wiped out in 1964 by a tsunami triggered by the Alaska earthquake. Now there are warning sirens in place and evacuation routes marked, just as in Japan. Before 1964 nobody had any idea what could happen.

[RawMaterials]

38. supposedly they did give about a 20 min warning

but local officials don't have the technology in place to evacuate.
plus lot's of the islands are small fishing tribes with now quick way to get on or off the island.

[pacifictiger]

63. it takes not only the infrastructure

for some sort of physical siren or warning system, but also an education process for the population - both government agencies and joe public. I lived in Hawaii for many years, and evacuation plans and implementation sometimes were not easy - even when there were many hours to prepare from earthquakes at america west coast or japan and everyone supposedly knew what to do - evacuation maps are printed in the phone books.
Most of these areas had little time - indonesia would have been pretty much instantaneous. Sri Lanka I think had about 2 hours. Even if someone called to tell someone in charge, without an evacuation plan in place, how would people have known what to do?

[Zynx]

67. Diego survived because of geography

It's too small for anyone to go anywhere, even with a warning.

The reason Diego wasn't destroyed is that it has almost no shelf, so no time for the wave to build up to a deadly height.

[NMDemDist2]

26. 120,000 dead in Asia, that is like losing the city of Sioux Falls, SD

or Salinas, CA or the entire island of Maui, HI

[old blue]

35. or my hometown of Ann Arbor, MI n/t

[Solly Mack]

32. Embassy email addresses online to send your condolences

As well as other contact info.

If you aren't near the UN, or an embassy to leave flowers and cards, you can still let them know your concern.

It's not much but it will let them know we care.

Yes, I've already donated money.....but they still could use the human touch.

One World. One Heart.

List of embassies in DC

http://www.embassy.org/embassies/

[Logansquare]

33. Can donate online to Oxfam here:

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/give_to_oxfam/donate/asiaquake1204.htm

Just change pounds sterling to your currency.

[Amaya]

41. List of agencies helping quake/tsunami victims

Action Against Hunger
247 West 37th Street, Suite 1201
New York, NY 10018
212-967-7800
http://www.aah-usa.org
American Jewish World Service
45 West 36th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10018
800-889-7146
http://www.ajws.org
ADRA International
9-11 Fund
12501 Old Columbus Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
800-424-2372
http://www.adra.org
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC Crisis Fund)
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA
215-241-7000
http://www.afsc.org
Catholic Relief Services
PO Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
800-736-3467
http://www.catholicrelief.org
Direct Relief International
27 South La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
805-964-4767
http://www.directrelief.org
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres
PO Box 2247
New York, NY 10116-2247
888-392-0392
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org
International Medical Corps
1919 Santa Monica Boulevard Suite 300
Santa Monica CA 90404
800-481-4462
http://www.imcworldwide.org
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
PO Box 372
CH-1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
41-22-730-4222
http://www.ifrc.org /
International Orthodox Christian Charities
Middle East Crisis Response
PO Box 630225
Baltimore, MD 21263-0225
877-803-4622
http://www.iocc.org
Lutheran World Relief
PO Box 17061
Baltimore MD 21298-9832
800-597-5972
http://www.lwr.org
MAP International
2200 Glynco Parkway
PO Box 215000
Brunswick, GA 3121-5000
800-225-8550
http://www.map.org
Mercy Corps
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208
800-852-2100
http://www.mercycorps.org
Northwest Medical Teams
PO Box 10
Portland, OR 97207-0010
503-624-1000
http://www.nwmedicalteams.org
Operation USA
8320 Melrose Avenue, Ste. 200
Los Angles, CA 90069
800-678-7255
http://www.opusa.org
Oxfam America
https://secure.ga3.org/02/oxfamamerica?extra1=asian_qua...
Relief International
11965 Venice Blvd.¥405
Los Angeles, CA 90066
800-572-3332
http://www.ri.org
Save the Children
Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
800-728-3843
www.savethechildren.org
US Fund for UNICEF
333 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
800-FOR-KIDS
http://www.unicefusa.or
World Concern
19303 Fremont Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98133
800-755-5022
http://www.worldconcern.org
World Relief
7 E. Baltimore St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
443-451-1900
http://www.wr.org
World Vision
PO Box 70288
Tacoma, Washington 98481-0288
888-56-CHILD
http://www.worldvision.org

[texanshatingbush]

44. The religious right are downright smug about this.

Check out the Yahoo thread with the messages copied below, disgusting.

http://news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?.mm=&action=m&board=37138445&tid=nmquakedc&sid=37138445&mid=6948&thr=6948&cur=6948&dir=d


Good riddance to muslims....
by: mcc_onthebus 12/30/04 12:46 am
Msg: 6948 of 7161
who held us (America) in a bad light. Who's side do you THINK god is on...yours? Do you really think so...?

You have gotten part of what you deserve.

"Alahu akbar" or whatever the fvck you all say to justify your pathetic selves. You don't realize it, but you are praying to your enemy. The real god HATES YOU AND YOUR KIND.

************************************************************
2. This is the real gem in the group. He is a prime example for the need of separation of church and state in the country:

Re: Good riddance to muslims....
by: death2bluenecks (38/M/Krakatoa) 12/30/04 01:16 am
Msg: 6954 of 7172

What they REALLY don't realize is that God's ears are closed to their prayers. The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been presented to them, over and over and over. The vast majority of them have chosen to reject God's free gift of salvation, so God will now let them perish in their pestilence.

May God help the USA to see the truth and to accept His word. It's time for US to stop funding (and otherwise supporting) the proliferation of islam, hinduism, buddhism, and all other false religions - as all such support is sponsored under the evil pretense of liberal "tolerance" - or we too shall soon experience the blows of God's wrath.

[DinahMoeHum]

45. If there is a hell, it awaits those yahoos, not us.

On the other hand, if I should find myself in hell when I die, I don't expect to find anything different than what I've seen of this disaster the last few days (on the TV and in the press)

:evilfrown:

[Amaya]

46. It's incomprehensible how these people profess to be "Christians"

It truly boggles the mind how much hate they have for others who aren't like them.

[MaineDem]

51. That is just so sad

It makes me ill.

[Strelnikov_]

55. What About The Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc. etc.

Or are they just lumped in with Muslims as 'Those Brown People'.

Ever think that the Christian identity movement is taking over the fundy church's.

[AllyCat]

61. This particular fundy is a real sicko

There are a number of people who post good rebuttals, but this person is so blinded by evil, he'll never see what they mean.

Did you catch the later post where he says that the person who is a moderate Republican Christian is a "luke-warm Christian"? So is that the deal with these freaks? I feared as much.

[pacifictiger]

65. I've been expecting this

It no doubt will be great fodder for the "biblical retribution" and armageddon types.
May their intolerance and lack of compassion for fellow humans be reflected right back at them onehundredfold. Instant karma to bite them in the butt personally, hard enough so they really feel it.

[illflem]

75. It gets much worse

[Oversea Visitor]

73. They end up getting

Christians kill
Indonesia has a population of 22 millions Christians.
And all this anti muslim talks in US are having an effect on the safety of these christian in Indonesia.

[truthpusher]

50. Indonesia Needs Help, Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=111574

[rainbow4321]

53. List of victims' nationalities

No doubt that this is a VERY preliminary list but it gives a clue about where some of the international victims were from:


http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-tsunami-foreign-victims-glance,0,3801538.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

The tally of foreigners confirmed dead from the quake and tsunamis throughout southern Asia, according to their countries' foreign ministries. Authorities said hundreds more are missing and feared dead. Thai authorities said 473 foreigners from 36 nations were confirmed dead from Thailand's southern resorts alone.

* Sweden: 44
* Germany: 33
* Britain: 27
* France: 22
* Norway: 21
* Japan: 15
* United States: 14
* Italy: 14
* Switzerland: 12
* Australia: 10
* Denmark: 7
* Singapore: 7
* Netherlands: 5
* Austria: 5
* Belgium: 5
* Finland: 4
* South Korea: 4
* South Africa: 4
* Canada: 3
* Brazil: 2
* Philippines: 1
* Poland: 1
* Russia: 1
* Colombia: 1
* Taiwan: 1
* New Zealand: 1

[damntexdem]

54. This death toll will exceed the 138k in Bangladesh.

Whether or not we ever have an accurate count.

And especially if epidemics spread in the wake of the tsunami.

[RoeBear]

56. Just don't let the Republicans

do the counting, we know how that went in Ohio.

[BrightKnight]

57. greater than the 74,000 killed in Nagasaki or 100,000 killed in Dresden

There were 74,000 people killed in Nagasaki and 100,000 people killed in Dresden.

I thought that it would be interesting to put the number in historical perspective. I'm not trying to make a political point.

[arcos]

58. deathtoll in Indonesia is expected to hit 400,000...

ONLY in Indonesia... the deathtoll in the other countries will probably be three times as large as it is today.

[allemand]

72. Finally a realistic number, I wonder why it took the media so long

and why they keep publishing only official death toll numbers and no estimates at all, which would show the real scale of this tragedy with so many people in urgent need of help, water, food, shelter, medicine...

[satori]

70. The Times, UK-Indonesian death toll could reach 100,000

Tsunami
AFP
December 31, 2004
Indonesian toll could reach 100,000
Meulaboh, Indonesia
By Agus Supriyadi

It is not yet known exactly how many people died in Sumatra’s northern Aceh province, but current figures but the toll at almost 80,000, at least 10,200 from Meulaboh. The overall toll in Indonesia could reach up to 100,000.

"The minister said that the number of dead victims in Aceh and North Sumatra could reach 100,000," said Marian Reksoprojo, a spokeswoman for the country's health minister.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,18690-1420809,00.html

[satori]

76. UN-Tsunami toll nearing 150,000-REUTERS

Times of India
Tsunami toll nearing 150,000: UN
Saturday, January 01, 2005 11:47:34 AM
REUTERS
India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/977702.cms

The UN emergency relief operations coordinator said the death toll was approaching 150,000 and Sweden's foreign minister said it could go as high as 200,000.

[allemand]

77. U.S. Navy helicopter sorties bring aid into Indonesia

BANDA ACEH (AFP): U.S. Navy helicopters began arriving in the devastated Indonesian city of Banda Aceh on Saturday reinforcing a massive international aid effort to help survivors of the devastating tsunami.

Sorties involving a dozen H-60 Seahawk helicopters from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which positioned off the coast of Sumatra island late Friday, began touching down in the city, a U.S. military spokesman told AFP.

<...>

Two U.S. C-130 Hercules aircraft also arrived in Jakarta on Saturday, where they were loaded up with relief supplies before departing directly for Banda Aceh, while a further two C-130 transporters would arrive in the Sumatra city of Medan late Saturday.

He said the Hercules were fitted with night landing gear, allowing them to arrive at Banda Aceh's partly-damaged airport after dark, freeing up daylight time for standard aircraft who are queuing up to land in the city. (***)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050101173556&irec=1

[allemand]

78. German military set up medical station in Aceh

BERLIN (DPA): The German Armed Forces medical service is to set up a field hospital in Aceh province to treat Indonesians injured by the Dec. 26 tsunami or caught up by the spread of diseases since, a Defense Ministry spokesman said in Berlin on Saturday.

Up to 100 personnel are on stand-by to fly to Indonesia, but the size and form of the medical station will not be decided until an advance party of eight have reached the Aceh region and determined what is needed.

The spokesman said the government took the decision Friday to send in the unit. A newspaper, the Bild am Sonntag, is to report on Sunday that Indonesia's government has already approved the plan.

The number of beds and how many operating theaters to set up would be decided by the advance party. The unit was also instructed to try to improve hygiene conditions to stop the spread of disease.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050101183310&irec=0

With so many foreign troops on the ground, I hope that the Indonesian military stops it's human rights violations against the local population.

[uppityperson]

79. good news site with photos link here

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Good photos, able to get more understanding of how widespread the destruction is and why people died. Photos not overly of dead people, more of damage and one good one of the wave.