Natural Disasters

By The Associated Press Mon May 12, 11:44 PM ET

A look at some of the deadliest natural disasters around the world in the past 40 years:

• May 2008: Earthquake (magnitude 7.9) hits Sichuan province in central China. Thousands are killed.

• May 2008: Cyclone Nargis strikes Myanmar, killing more than 30,000 and leaving an additional 30,000 missing.

• October 2005: Northern Pakistan earthquake (magnitude 7.6) kills about 78,000 people.

• August 2005: U.S. Gulf Coast Hurricane Katrina kills at least 1,600 people in Louisiana and Mississippi.

• December 2004: Indian Ocean tsunami (triggered by magnitude 9.0 earthquake) kills 230,000 in a dozen countries.

• December 2003: Southeastern Iran earthquake (magnitude 6.5) kills 26,000.

• August 1999: Western Turkey earthquake (magnitude 7.4) kills 17,000.

• October 1998: Central America Hurricane Mitch kills 9,000.

• April 1991: Bangladesh cyclone kills 140,000.

• June 1990: Northwestern Iran earthquake (magnitude 7.7) kills 50,000.

• July 1976: Northeastern China earthquake (magnitude 8.2) kills 240,000, with some estimates at 655,000.

• November 1970: Bangladesh cyclone kills 300,000. World’s deadliest cyclone on record.

The quake – now upgraded to 7.9 magnitude – struck on May 12, 2008 at 1428 local time (0628 GMT) and was felt as far away as Beijing and the Thai capital, Bangkok. Death toll is currently 12,000 and rising.

Cyclone rips through Myanmar on Saturday, May 3. Cyclone Nargis packed 150-160 mile an hour (241-267 kilometer per hour) gusts of wind. Thousands have died. Below is a before and after shot of southern Myanmar (Burma).

At least we know he has his priorities straight

Aussie buckles in 30 pack of beer and lets 5-year old child sit on the floor.

“I haven’t ever seen something like this before,” he said. “This is the first time that the beer has taken priority over a child.”

Aussie Man Buckles Beer, not Child

Tuesday, May. 13, 2008 By AP

(DARWIN, Australia) — An Australian man has been fined after buckling in a case of beer with a seat belt but leaving a 5-year-old child to sit on the car’s floor, police said Tuesday.

Constable Wayne Burnett said he was “shocked and appalled” when he pulled over the unregistered car Friday in the central Australian town of Alice Springs.

The 30-can beer case was strapped in between two adults sitting in the back seat of the car. The child was also in back, but on the car’s floor.

“The child was sitting in the lump in the center, unrestrained,” Burnett told reporters Tuesday.

“I haven’t ever seen something like this before,” he said. “This is the first time that the beer has taken priority over a child.”

The driver was fined 750 Australian dollars — about $710 — for driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle and for failing to ensure a child was wearing a safety belt.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1739623,00.html?xid=rss-topstories