Hundreds reported dead in Indonesian quake

Hundreds of people are reported dead after a massive earthquake struck off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, just three months after a huge quake and tsunami devastated the region. Indonesia’s National Coordinating Agency for Disaster Management and Refugees puts the death toll at 330.

“It is predicted — and it’s still a rough estimate — that the number of the victims of dead may be between 1,000 and 2,000,” Vice President Jusuf Kalla told the el-Shinta radio station, according to The Associated Press.

Quake hits off Indonesia

CNN.com, 12:21 pm: An earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 8.2 struck off the coast of Indonesia today — on the same fault line that originated a December 26 earthquake that launched a deadly tsunami. The director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said scientists there feared another tsunami might hit the area. “There is a potential for some wave activity,” said Julie Martinez, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center.

The sun’s been shining these past few days, and I feel like I’m on top of the world. It’s kind of scary to think about how a simple change in daylight patterns can affect your mind so radically. I don’t think I’m going to be able to handle anymore winters like this…

Anyway, a lot of other really great things have happened this week, and I had to share because of how morose my last few posts have been. Two amazingly cool people may also be going on the trip to Ethiopia (you know who you are! ), my finances for the trip are being provided in amazing ways, I went shopping this week with the money from my work bonus, spent an absolutely gorgeous day walking around downtown Portsmouth, and found some great deals on much needed clothing. And on top of all that, the youth group’s Spring Retreat is next weekend, and tomorrow is my last day of classes before break!

*whew*

So, yeah, things are looking a little better than they were a few days ago.

There’s a lot more happening right now, but I won’t bore you with the details. Well….maybe later……