The Netherlands has been struck by an earthquake. A real one. With a 4.5 magnitude on the Richter scale, the tremor frightened many people and animals in the southeast of the country for a second or two. Twitter is brimming with messages from people sharing their "shocking" experiences after the light quake.
Think of an earthquake and you think of tsunamis. Immediately after the disaster on Thursday evening there were fears of a catastrophic flood. As Koningin_NL ("Queen NL") tweeted, "The Royal Water Manager has issued a tsunami warning for the Giese Lake near Rheden. Don't go outside unless you're wearing rubber boots." The tsunami warning was later withdrawn.
Animal suffering
The final toll has not been established. It is assumed that there are at least three fatalities: two china garden gnomes owned by @Tienerzin, and the budgie of a Nijmegen woman. A fourth victim, a parrot in Wehl, took ill after falling off his stick. It is unclear whether he will recover. Aid to the victims is slow in coming, @Tienerzin tweeted.
Animals' sixth sense for impending catastrophes was illustrated by Tosca Plate's dramatic experiences. Speaking to De Telegraaf daily from her Nijmegen home, she said, "My budgies felt it coming. They had been restless for days. Yesterday morning one of them had died, and after the quake the other ones were clinging to the bars of the cage. I guess they were scared."
The end
The disaster which unfolded 40 km east of Nijmegen was felt by many people. Shocked reactions poured in from all over the country. @Dexhendriks tweeted, "What do you say? Earthquake in the Netherlands? And 2012 is coming closer too? Maya calender, anyone? #endoftheworld". Another twitterer, Kasper, was confused by the quake. "For one moment I thought I felt a tremor, but no, it was the Randstad metro once again."
International aid
The Dutch expressed their disappointment in the way the rest of the world reacted. Foreign media are barely reporting the tragedy which hit Holland so hard. People are desperately wondering whether anyone is collecting money to help the victims. As Kaj Leers tweeted, "So what about solidarity, Haiti?" Fortunately @Koningin_NL had a royal piece of reassurance: "Do not fear, my fellow citizens. We were just on the phone to the President of Haiti and they have begun a national collection."
The cause of the quake disaster is the source of much speculation. Researchers at the KNMI meteorological office think that the explanation may be found in a tweet by @sredlums, "Sorry about that minor quake, folks. #nomorebrownbeansforme".
Whatever the explanation, 8 September will never be the same.
(rk/nc/ae)
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oh! I get this flower in my garden!
Someone can to to tell me what its name this flower?
oh! I get this flower in my garden!
Someone can to to tell me what its name this flower?
Hello
It's a nice article it will help my research.
Thanks
Brillant story, I had a good laugh, brilliant headline to!
Yes, i experienced some of them myself here, keep them comming (the stories ofcourse)
Prayers for the fallen garden gnomes.
:)
lol I think it is a fun story, but feel sorry for the gnomes. I am from Christchurch and what we have to keep on looking at the bright side and have a laugh
While I have not experienced a major earthquake. Here in Nebraska we are close to the New Madrid Fault. Approximately 10 years ago, there was a minor tremor and I felt it in my house. It was rather unnerving. You should not make light of the fact that there was an earthquake in The Netherlands. The Western coast of Canada had a 6.4 earthquake at the same time the one happened in The Netherlands. Consequence? I think God is speaking, and it seems as though a lot of you aren't listening. I am, I have made my peace with God. HAVE YOU?
Oh stop it Kiwi. You're just trying to disagree to disagree. There's nothing wrong with lightening up a Friday.
One look behind the scenes that I don't want to deny you: the RNW duty editor who had the final say about publishing this little story about a little earthquake is a native New Zealander. And boy, does she have a sense of humour!
We are confident our readers will spot the tongue-in-cheek slant of the story. Sorry if we touched a raw nerve nonetheless.
Rob Kievit
Senior Editor; RNW English
I have been in stronger earthquakes and my country has suffered of three big tragedies because of earthquakes. Even a whole town of 10.000 wiped out because of one. Still I find it very hilarious way of seing a minor event . I am sure is with the respect for victims around the world.
Please forgive us for the tongue-in-cheek nature of this story. We really wanted to share some of the funny comments that have been made in the wake of Thursday's very minor tremor in the Netherlands.
We at Radio Netherlands Worldwide are very aware how terrible some earthquakes can be for victims and do not think that is a laughing matter by any stretch of the imagination. But we hope our readers will allow us to lighten up on Friday afternoon.
No I will not forgive you. An earthquake is nothing to make light of. You should be ashamed of yourselves. QUIT BEING SUCH DOOFUSES. QUIT SMOKING THE WACKY WEED.
Stop taking life so seriously. I've been through some serious earthquakes in california... just one and a half years ago we had a 7.2 that did a lot of damage, there were HUNDREDS of aftershocks... but we took things in stride.
If you disagree with RNW, then stop reading it.
I'm sure RNW will get over your reluctance to "forgive" them... what a complete ahole you are.
"I'm sure RNW will get over your reluctance to "forgive" them... what a complete ahole you are."...If she agrees with RNW, then should read it? You don't like her comment, then she is a "ahole? Whow! Freedom of speech at it's best. You are the one taking taking it seriously.
The RNW journalists do not realise this,Kiwi..it is a fun fact for them
As a resident of Christchurch, New Zealand who has gone through over 7500 earthquakes in the past 1 year, this is not the kind of story I want to see popping up in my Google News Earthquake Section.
181 people died on Feb 22 2011 from a 6.3 earthquake and my beautiful city was ruined.
As a resident of Christchurch, New Zealand who has gone through over 7500 earthquakes in the past 1 year, this is not the kind of story I want to see popping up in my Google News Earthquake Section.
181 people died on Feb 22 2011 from a 6.3 earthquake and my beautiful city was ruined.
Natural disasters are not to be joked about on a public medium like the internet.
Chill out and accept nature for what it is... earthquakes happen, some survive, some don't. Period.
-in poor taste-guess you do not realise Maike, what could an earthquake do..and does..
The most resilient people in the world are those who can keep their sense of humor even during tragedy. Neither the story nor the comments I read are cruel toward individuals, and they do not cause people to ignore the dngers of more severe disasters. I am happy to see this kind of article.
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