Haiti Has Most Fatalities, But Not Largest Quake

With the new year beginning we often look back at what occurred in the last year and remember the events that took place. We as a society tend to want to always make a "best of" list and see what can make it onto it. Earthquakes are no exception, and 2010 marked yet another historic year. Obviously, the quakes that struck Haiti topped the list. The article points out of the 227,000 people that died in 2010 due to quakes, 222,570 were located in Haiti. As devastating as that figure is, the quake that shook Haiti didn't actually top out the list for largest quake in scale readings. The Haitian quake came in at an astounding 7.0, whereas a magnitude 8.8 quake shook off shore of Bio-Bio Chile on February 27th and took the title of largest quake. 

The red bulls eye area shows the shock wave felt by Haitians by the earthquake on January 12th, 2010. This quake topped out the list for most casualties in 2010.

The difference between the Haitian quake and the Chile quake is the Chile quake only had 577 deaths, most of which were caused by a tsunami that followed the quake. The article explains that even though the energy released by the quake was 500 times more powerful than the one in Haiti, Chile has stricter building codes that helped cope with the natural disaster.

This image shows the shock wave felt by Chileans on February 27th, 2010. While it was 500 times stronger than the Haiti quake, it had far fewer casualties, a mere 577 compared to Haiti's 277,570.


 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110117142732.htm

Brazil's Worst Single Day Disaster

"From the air, you could really see the scope of the devastation. It wasn't one or five. It was dozens of slides, smaller, larger, rolling green hills, just scarred by these rusty-red strips torn in by the rain." These were the words spoken by NPR reporter Melissa Brock as she described the situation of massive floods that struck Brazil last week. She is riding around in a helicopter to survey the area because that is the only safe way to view the aftermath of 12 inches of rain in a matter of hours. The flooding led to massive mudslides that, at the most up to date count, left over 800 people deceased.

Residents stand near vehicles which are partially buried in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This radio news report transcript explains the hardship of what survivors are going through in the South American country. Imagine losing 23 of your relatives, as one man discussed in the report had.  It is flat out unfathomable. To make matters worse, the floods left towns flattened, bridges destroyed and roads erased all of which made it next to impossible for aid to arrive. Throw in the rough steep terrain of the area, along with turbulent weather, and it was days before rescue helicopters could even begin to send in rescue efforts and assistance.

An aerial view of houses inundated by flood in Sao Luis do Paraitinga, about 140 km from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Jan. 2, 2010

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/21/133121660/Brazil-Tallies-Damage-In-Deadly-Floods?ft=1&f=1004

Shark's Swimming Down Main Street Australia

I have played many street festival shows throughout my musical career, and I have seen many interesting things at these events. But, I don't think I have ever seen anything on a main street quite like Australia is currently viewing. Due to the devastating flooding going on in the country, residents and current flood victims in Goodna have discovered bull sharks swimming down the town's main streets which are currently covered in what looks to be many feet deep rushing waters. The sharks are believed to have come from the near by Brisbane River (well near by = over a mile away!) crossed through a flooded park and highway finally to end up swimming by McDonalds in downtown Goodna. This trip would normally be impossible for the sharks to make, but due to the high flood waters McDonalds is considering making their "drive thru" a "swim thru" and offer special deals to the sharks for fish sandwiches.

A bull shark, which has been viewed swimming down flooded Main Street in Goodna, Australia.

The McDonalds in Goodna which the sharks have been spotted swimming by.

In all seriousness, the article points out that three quarters of the state of Queensland has been declared a disaster zone due to the flooding that has taken place since December of 2010.  It also states that the area has been dealing with over 26 feet of water in locations that are normally populated.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/sharks-swimming-in-australias-flooded-streets.html