230,000 dead after massive flooding
Saturday, December 28, 2024
It was 20 years ago yesterday, Boxing Day, that a massive tsunami devasted communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries.
The countries whose coastal areas were affected included India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and Thailand. The wave even reached the east coast of Africa.
The tsunami and its aftermath were responsible for immense destruction and loss of life on the rim of the Indian Ocean.
Factfile
On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time, a major earthquake, measuring a massive 9.2–9.3 on the Richter scale, struck with an epicentre off the west coast of Aceh in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
The undersea earthquake was caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burma plate and the Indian plate.
 The direct results of this huge tsunami with waves up to 30 m (100 ft) high, caused major disruptions to living conditions and commerce in coastal provinces of surrounding countries.
It is the deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century, one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, and the worst tsunami disaster in history.
It is also the worst natural disaster in the history of Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Asia, the most powerful earthquake in the 21st century, and at least the third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world since modern seismography began in 1900.
It had the longest fault rupture ever observed, between 1,200 km and 1,300 km and had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, at least ten minutes. It caused the planet to vibrate as much as 10 mm (0.4 in), and also remotely triggered earthquakes as far away as Alaska.
Its epicentre was between Simeulue and mainland Sumatra. The plight of the affected people and countries prompted a worldwide humanitarian response, with donations totalling more than US$14 billion.
20 years on
The recovery of these communities has been amazing. Obviously, the shock and grief experienced two decades ago is still ever present in the hearts and minds of survivors and the bereaved.
On this 20th anniversary the media has “gone to town”, interviewing survivors, including locals and foreigners who were there on holiday, and illustrating how they have processed what happened and how they have coped with the loss of loved ones. Many have involved themselves in charity work and continue to support the communities affected.
“The Impossible” (feature film)
 Eight years after the tragedy a remarkable film was released by Warner Bros. The English language-Spanish collaboration “Lo Imposible” was directed by Juan Antonio García Bayona and written by Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez two Spanish film-makers in their 40s.
The film featured international actors, including Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Geraldine Chaplin, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring, Douglas Johansson and Emilio Riccardi.
The film was well-received by critics and received numerous nominations and awards, including Oscars, Golden Globes and from the Screen Actors Guild.
  
Naomi Watts [Aventura y Naturaleza] [Photo: 20Minutos] The cast at an Award Ceremony [El Diario]
You can watch the entire film in English here: The impossible full movie 1080 Blueray print
© The Culture Vulture/The History Man
Links:
The Impossible (2012 film) - Wikipedia
The impossible full movie 1080 Blueray print
Photos:
20Minutos, Aventura y Naturaleza, BBC News, El Diario, Muy Interesante, Wikipedia, WordPress
Acknowledgements:
Wikipedia, www.bing.com, www.britannica.com, www.premiososcar.net
Tags:
14 countries, 20 years on, 21st century, 227,898 people, Alaska, Boxing Day, Douglas Johansson, earthquake, east coast of Africa, Emilio Riccardi, Ewan McGregor, Geraldine Chaplin, India, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Juan Antonio García Bayona, “Lo Imposible”, Maldives, Marta Etura, Naomi Watts, Pakistan, Richter scale, seismography, Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez, Simeulue, Sönke Möhring, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Thailand, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, "The Impossible", third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world, Tom Holland, tsunami, Wikipedia
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Published at 10:11 AM Comments (1)
8 December – Inmaculada Concepción
Sunday, December 8, 2024
 Today celebrates the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
Christians the world over consider today to be one of the most important days in the religious calendar. In many Roman Catholic countries, it is an official “feast day”.
[Image courtesy of Freepik]
Designation as public holiday
[Image courtesy of Reddit]
8 December is a registered public holiday in the following sovereign countries and territories:
“Puente”
 If a “national holiday” falls on a Sunday, the regional governments — the autonomous communities of Spain — can choose an alternate holiday, or they can allow local authorities to choose.
A “Puente” (bridge) is sometimes made between weekends and holidays that fall on Tuesday or Thursday. The “Puente” will then create a long weekend.
In 2024, 8 December falls on a Sunday, today, as a result of which Monday 9 December is also a “día festivo”.
[Image courtesy of La Sexta]
 Which is why banks, schools, universities, medical centres, government and council offices and many shops and businesses closed their doors last Thursday and won’t re-open them until next Tuesday!
Spanish-owned stores, such as Mercadona and Día remain closed on religious days.
It is noticeable, however, that foreign-owned supermarkets and DIY stores, such as Aldi, LIDL and Bauhaus, German; Al Campo, Carrefour, Supeco, Leroy Merlin and Conforama, all French; IKEA, Swedish; and JYSK, Danish, open as normal.
[Image courtesy of LinkedIn]
© The History Man
Acknowledgements:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Secret Serranía
Wikipedia
Images:
Freepik
La Sexta
LinkedIn
Reddit
Tags:
8 December, Al Campo, Aldi, banks, Bauhaus, businesses, Carrefour, Conforama, Día, “día festivo”, DIY stores, foreign-owned supermarkets, Freepik, government and council offices, History Man, IKEA, immaculate conception, Inmaculada Concepción, JYSK, La Sexta, Leroy Merlin, LIDL, LinkedIn, medical centres, Mercadona, national holiday, “Puente”, Reddit, schools, Secret Serranía, shops, Spanish-owned stores, Supeco, universities, Virgin Mary, Wikipedia, áéíóúü
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Published at 5:45 AM Comments (0)
Día de la Constitución – what a disappointment!
Friday, December 6, 2024
 One of the most significant días festivos in Spain – in fact a national holiday – appears to be of little importance to the Spaniards where I live in Andalucía.
As I write this at 19.30 on the day itself in my local bar, there is nobody about!
I’ve spoken to a few of my Spanish neighbours, and today is not important for them. They’re just glad to have a day off!
Why is it not important?
Día de la Constitución
 Today is a celebration of Spain emerging from the Franco dictatorship and becoming a fully-fledged democratic country for the first time since 1936, more than 80 years ago!
But here I sit, in my local and there’s nobody about!
***
Wait! It’s 19.40 and a bunch of Spanish hotel guests have just arrived in the bar.
 I’ve just spent 20 minutes talking to them. They’re from Merida in Extremadura, my second-favourite region in Spain, and they understand the significance of today. BTW, there are 40 of them from a walking group (senderistas).
For me, as a foreigner, who has experienced Spain since Franco, the golpe de estado in 1980, the economic crash in 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic, and the current resurgence of the Spanish economy, I think that today is a very important day in the modern history of Spain.
But, that’s just me!
The locals seem only to be interested in a day off!
© The Travel Guru
Links:
Fortieth anniversary of Spain's failed coup - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Journey to the hard extreme - Extremadura - Part 1
Extremadura – Journey to the hard extreme – Part 2 - 2021
Acknowledgements:
RTVE
Sitios de España
Tags:
Andalucía, Covid-19 pandemic, Día de la Constitución, día festivo, economic crash, Extremadura, foreigner, Franco dictatorship, golpe de estado in 1980, Merida, national holiday, RTVE, resurgence of the Spanish economy, Sitios de España, Travel Guru
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Published at 8:58 PM Comments (0)
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