Jae Ellis
September 3, 2009
1:35 p.m.
On Wednesday September 3, a earthquake on a magnitude of 7.0 struck the island of Java in Indonesia, causing 57 deaths and over 400 injuries. The earthquake triggered a landslide in Cianjur, buring and devastating at least 11 homes with at least 36 people in them. Rescuers were limited to only their hands and some tools to try and pry free the victims of the landslide. The devastation caused many casualties, including road damage which made the usage of heavy machinery to aid in rescue efforts near to impossible. The quake also destroyed buildings and shut off electricity. The extent of the damage began from the west coast of the island and spread out to the east coast. The entire island felt the tremble of the earthquake.
Of course, Indonesia is not a stranger to earthquakes. Being located on the ring of fire (a literal hot spot for colliding plate tectonics and volcanic activity) the Pacific area sees many earthquakes. The unfortuate side to these natural disasters, however, is how they strongly affect the society in which they happen. I feel like the people of Indonesia who witnessed this natural disaster and felt the blow it delt has an advantage to those who could fall victim to an earthquake in say, Toronto, Canada. Having experienced such earthquakes often would make the society of Indonesia prepared for the disaster. When an earthquake hits that is a magnitude of 7.0 and only 57 deaths and 400 injuries result from it, we must know that the people who were affected by this quake know how to be prepared and how to survive.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/02/indonesia.earthquake/index.html
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