In Reply to: Earthquake posted by Apple on Friday, 14. October 2011 at 11:33 Bali Time:
The earthquakes were minor really (if they are deep there is less effect than if they are near the surface), and it was only when we watched some tv news last night we realised they had been reported in NZ and Australia.
The first earthquake here yesterday morning was nothing really spectacular (by NZ standards) but the locals are naturally a bit jumpy about them and all rushed into the street.
Some tourists at my hotel enjoyed getting themselves into an adrenalin-fuelled flap, texting and phoning relatives and friends and passing on unsubstantiated info about what was really rather minor damage. A few roofs lost some tiles, a few things fell off shelves. It was one of those gentle shakes, not sharp or vigorous.
I was shopping in Matahari, a two storey department store in Denpasar, in the afternoon when a smaller one - little more than a sway - happened. First thing I realised was that all the shop staff and locals were running off the shop floor and down the escalators, women and children crying. I sauntered sedately out behind them, a little bemused - if the building had not fallen in the morning one it was hardly going to with the small one. And if it was a precursor to a larger one, then all the haste in the world was not going to save any of us. I was more likely to be injured in a crush of 'escaping' locals.
I think if anyone was injured it was more likely from rushing about afterwards than during.
This country is on a volcanic rim. There are bound to be shakes from time to time. Only time I would worry is if the locals started running inland shouting 'tsunami, tsunami' because they know the first signs and will hotfoot it to higher ground.
I don't think there is any country in the world that is truly safe from acts of nature, let alone man-made disasters. Come to Bali!
"A life lived in fear is a life half-lived"