Recent disasters

By now, many of you here may have known about the 2 natural disasters that had recently hit in different parts of Asia.



First off was the deadly Cyclone Margis that has overwhelmed the southern coast of Myanmar on 2nd May. There are about 124,000 fatalies and 50000 more people missing. This disaster has refreshed many people's memories on the deadly Indian Ocean erathquake-cum-tsunami that has struck Thailand, Indonesia and India back in 2004, which had claimed abt 230,000 lives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Nargis



And then on 12th May, there was a huge earthquake hat occurred in Sichuan, the central region of China. Nearly 29,000 fatalities. It was the deadliest and strongest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed over 250,000 people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake

It's so saddening and heart-breaking... we know too well that natural disasters are beyond our control. We may be safe from such disasters in Singapore, but elsewhere there are many unfortunate people. Millions have lost their homes. Lives are lost within minutes or hours. Families are torn by grief and despair over the deaths of their lost ones. Children comprise about half the percentage of fatalities in either country.

The situation is no different from the time of the collapse of the World Trade Centers on the dreadful day of Sept 11 2001, or the Bali bombings in 2005. And then there are a few mass killings in schools last year and this year. In Singapore, there is the Huang Na murder case some 3 years ago, and 2 body parts murders at Kallang and Orchard. In Malaysia, there is the gruseome murder of Candy Ong by a sick and twisted fella (who had since been hanged), and the murder of 3 yr old Shearlyn late last year (the murderer has since hanged himself in sheer remorse). And recently in Toa Payoh, a woman has been arrested for mudering her own flesh and blood as well as attempting suicide. Let us not forget that Mas Selamat is still missing after so long. These are signs that the world is reaching the end of days. :-(

For now, let's pray for God's healing touch among the broken-hearted survivors of both tragedies. And also pray for a better tomorrow. Let us do our part to heal the world.