I'm not too keen on using the net, or a computer for that matter, but, to tell you the truth, people do learn new things everyday, and I'm one of 'em! I have two email addresses. This one is with Yahoo and the other at Hotmail. I also try to write everyday stories for a comic strip that will be coming out with the mms svcs, so reading yours and your guest's stories should help me gather enough material. Maraming Salamat, Laila.

I came across this site when I had to learn fast about earthquakes I had been in in my 35 years on Earth, and since I am involded in creating characters and writing stories for a game, my thoughts are of putting in historical fiction, with reference to events that happened in my lifetime. I'm talking too much, but you and your guests have made it easier for me to incorporate our accumulated experiences with such events. Maraming Salamat!

Thanks for the links Laila, going to check.
Here is a recent article about the 1755 earthquake:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0830_040830_portugal_quake.html#main

Well, looks like we both live in very dangerous areas, isn't it? Personally what scares me is not dying. Is the suffering involved...everytime I see images of an earthquake I imagine the devastating effects. Images of the Turkish and Iranian earthquakes are still fresh in my mind.
On the other hand, I believe these disasters give us a true sense of what life means, and of how things that we consider important are in fact so irrelevant...

Afonso, thanks for the 'Historical Depictions of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake' link, that's quite informative. Earthquakes in the Philippines lasted for couple of seconds only.

"In 1968, 200 people died when the Ruby Tower collapsed in a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Manila. More than 6,000 people died when a tsunami caused by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Moro Gulf hit them in 1976. Then we had the July 16, 1990 earthquake whose devastation is so far unequaled in deaths, property damage and psychological shock." Read more about this at http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/Earthquake/1990LuzonEQ_Monograph/foreword.html

The entire Philippines is situated in the Ring of Fire, and also in the disaster-prone category, mostly hit by natural calamities like volcanic eruptions and strong typhoons. Please look at the two maps here - http://www.crystalinks.com/rof.html - it is quite scary to imagine when the big one will hit us...

BTW, did you noticed that the Lisbon earthquake was measured in minutes, and not in seconds?

You should always have a small radio, batteries, a lamp, food and fresh water stored.
You should never panic (yeah right) and never run to the stairs or elevator. Instead you should find protection close to one of the main building walls or under a solid object that can provide you some air in case you're trapped. Also avoid windows. If you survive, you should beware of small glasses, never switch electricity on because of the danger of fire...etc.
Then you should turn on your radio, to listen to the news and information being transmited to the population.

Hmm. What if I told you that Lisbon is waiting a strong one to happen at any moment? Umpredicatble as they are, strong earthquakes have hit Lisbon with 200 years intervals. The last one was on 1st November 1755. It lasted for 10 minutes, generated a tsunami, and was felt in places such as Morocco, Algiers, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland...and even Finland!

Here, please read this:

http://nisee.berkeley.edu/lisbon/

Scary hey? It's like having a time-bomb under our feet, ready to explode...Portugal is near the intersection of several tectonic plates, so it's just a question of time untill all the accumulated energy comes out. Innevitable as dead...

Afonso, when my father told me on September 26th that the Philippines might be hit by a strong earthquake before the year ends, I just shrugged my shoulders. He even advised us to store some food in case of emergency.

When there was an earthquake this Friday, I'm having a second thought that he might have a point....

Happy it's all ok Laila. Personally, I never experienced one...yet.

Many thanks to those who visited this site and especially those who posted a comment. We're at the fourth floor of a building and it was scary if something bad happens.

Anyway, thank you for your concern...

Hi Laila,
Just read about your experience.
Glad you're safe!
Best wishes,
Tina

Hi Laila;

Glad to hear you made it thorugh the quake with no harm to you or your family. when i heard the news on CNN, you came to mind. By the way, it was a 6.4, Very severe.

take care

Elegant John

Hi, thanks for visiting my website!! Have a good day :)

Beautiful site! Found you through blog explosion.

Welcome to BlogExplosion, glad to know you are okay. Beautiful layout btw.

Glad you are ok. From the news it looked pretty bad.

I've never personally experienced an earthquake, or any natural disaster or even minor natural (disaster... I can't think of another word) unless you want to call a snow storm one?? It must be frightening.