The news is full of the massive earthquake that shook Sumatra on Wednesday. The 7.9 shaker rattled buildings and caused a 9ft tsunami to hit the port of Padang. Here in Bali we did not feel anything, at least I didn’t, neither did anyone I’ve talked to.
Padang was one of the places mentioned after the Asian tsunami as a point which was vulnerable to a tsunami due to its low level. Here’s more from the Jakarta Post.
Indonesia has earthquakes every couple of weeks, most of which are in undeveloped locations. My worry is when one hits Bali, with all the rampant building going on, cement structures on a fault line. Half of Denpasar will be flattened for sure, and some of those ‘luxury villas’ will be shown to be what they are…overpriced cement boxes. Want to hear something funny? A while ago I was typing in my upstairs bedroom, when something hit the floor. Turning around I saw it was a foot long chunk of cement, that had flaked off of a support beam and fallen to the floor. Imagine that the support structures are so degraded that gravity will make them disintegtrate! What would an earthquake do?
Having been in earthquakes before here in Indonesia, the Philippines and California, I’d advise people to get outside quickly and safely, avoid using elevators and be aware of falling masonry. If trapped inside lay down next to something solid like a stone bath tub or kitchen counter.
