Megathrust Tsunami

[Guest guest]

Dear Jyotishis,

 

Seismologists of the US Geological Survey and other institutes like Caltech, have said that this earthquake was due to a pressure built for 2 centuries and did not find a release. This pressure was released in a megathrust on 26th December, 2004 in a magnitude of 9 Richter. Even the aftershocks were over 7 Richter. The energy released was so great, that the island of Sumatra was shifted by 120 ft. Other small islands in the vicinity were also shifted by 20-30 mts. at least. The geography of Sumatra has changed considerably. The capitol has sunk below sea level. The western coast has sunk and the north western tip has shifted by 36 mts. The energy made the earth wobble in its axis and affected the rotation of the earth, thereby making the days shorter permanently by one ten thousandth second! Seismologists say that the earth vibrated during the quake and 'rung like a bell'.

 

The tsunami created was so great that it spilled over to the Pacific and Mexico, New Zealand and Chile saw huge wave upto 8 ft. in height.

 

Many of our friends from foreign countries have enquired about the casualties in India. It is reported to be about 9,400 of which 7, 000 deaths have occurred in the Andaman Islands. The rest have been in the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Puri has been fine, except for 3 days since the earthquake there has been a strong wind, no sunlight (although clear skies as per Varahamihira's dictum of Wind induced earthquakes). The fishermen were warned and hence did not venture forth into the sea, although a vendor on the Puri beach told me that a few people had drowned. However I cannot vouch for the veracity of the statement.

 

Best regards,

 

Sarbani