News footage

News: there are still 11,290 people missing in Sri Lanka. I suspect it’s pretty safe to assume that most of them are dead.

They were also showing footage of a hotel near Galle, at the southern tip of Sri Lanka. Fahim used to live in Galle, and he’s been to this particular hotel they were showing on the news that’s submerged almost to the roofs. He’s lived in a lot of the areas that were worst hit.

Yala National Park is closed – water reached 2 km inland. The family that was in the car that was swept away that I mentioned in an earlier post were in Yala park. The woman who survived was apparently flung from the car and landed in a tree. My earlier statement that she didn’t reach the car was erroneous.

And now there are warnings against child abduction on the news, adding that there will be opportunities for adoption. I had no idea that this would be enough of a problem that they have to publicly say, "Don’t steal children." It just never ocurred to me.

And now I’m watching footage of people carrying pale pasty bodies out of the water through wreckage on the beach.

Bridges are washed out. Some roads are completely gone. The railway lines in the south are destroyed – they ran along the beach. It’ll likely be years before they’re restored.

I spoke to Richard, the magazine editor, today, and he mentioned that this is not, in fact, the first time this has happened to Sri Lanka. When Krakatoa blew up, the ocean receded, and observers on the shore reported seeing old shipwrecks uncovered. That’s what happens when a tsunami comes – the sea recedes before it crashes.

I’ll have to find references. After Richard mentioned it, I remembered reading it, too. Richard is now considering writing a book about this – he’s also a writer. He wants to compile a book of the experiences people here have gone through. All proceeds going to one charity or another. I think it’s a great idea. It could help others understand better. But it’s also a longer term project.

I am thankful for the outpouring of love and concern that’s happening as a result of this disaster. Many people worldwide are donating a lot of money, and this will help considerably. Many governments are sending enourmous amounts of money and supplies, and that will also help tremendously.

Author: LMAshton
Howdy! I'm a beginner artist, hobbyist photographer, kitchen witch, wanderer by nature, and hermit introvert. This is my blog feed. You can find my fediverse posts at https://a.farook.org/Laurie.

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