A young girl who was washed away in 2004′s Indian Ocean tsunami when she was just eight years old has found her family again … almost seven years after it was assumed she had died. Quite the Christmas present, huh?

The girl, named Wati, returned to her grandfather in Meulaboh city on Wednesday. Now aged fifteen, she was accompanied by an acquaintance of her grandfather, who said the lost girl had shown up at his coffee shop and told him she had come to Meulaboh by bus. Wati said she was trying to find her way back home, but was lost. The only name she could remember (aside from her own) was that of her grandfather, Ibrahim.

Ibrahim was quickly convinced the girl was his granddaughter, and her identity was later confirmed by her parents, thanks to a mole and a scar over her eyebrow that she had acquired when she was six years old.

Indonesia’s Antara news agency reports how Wati was split from her family – apparently, she lost the grip of her mother (who was attempting to carry Wati and her two siblings to safety) and was carried away by the water. Wati’s mother and siblings all survived the disaster.

There are still plenty of unanswered questions about Wati. For example, it’s not known what has happened to her since she was carried away by the tsunami – her whereabouts for the past seven years are a complete mystery.

The Indian Ocean tsunami occurred on Boxing Day 2004, and claimed 230,210 – 310,000 lives.

See also: Dog From Virginia Found in California, Eight Years After Going Missing

Girl Thought to Have Died in 2004 Tsunami is Found Alive is a post from: The Inquisitr

Up to 20 million tons of debris from the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11 is closing in and could reach Hawaii in less than two years, Mail Online reports.

Crew members of Russia’s STS Pallada spotted the debris, which includes a 20 feet long fishing boat, as it floats across the Pacific.

Researchers at the University of Hawaii have been tracking the debris. The latest sighting confirmed their path estimates. However, they had to revised travel estimates, saying the debris will now reach the Midway Islands by winter and Hawaii in less than two years.

A spokesman for the International Pacific Research Center at the University of Hawaii said:

“The Russian ship… found an array of unmistakable tsunami debris on its homeward voyage from Honolulu to Vladivostok.”

Researchers have been tracking the debris because it can threaten small ships and coastlines.

Is there any cause for alarm? Should we panic?

20 Million Tons of Debris From Japan Headed to Hawaii is a post from: The Inquisitr

After the last earthquake and tsunami rocked the coast of Japan one enterprising company chose to jump into action and build a safety device for the next Tsunami.

Named “Noah” after Noah’s Ark the contraption, built by a small Japanese firm, loos lie a giant tennis ball but in actuality it’s capable of holding up to four adults at one time and floats on the surface of the water, saving people from drowning.

Noah is also a force to be reckoned with, built from enhanced fiberglass that has survived numerous crash tests and also comes equipped with a lookout window and breathing holes along the top side in case a rescue mission takes longer than expected.

The company was quick to point out that the balls can even be used as toy houses for children making them fun and functional.

The idea comes after 20,000 people were killed, went missing or were injured following the countries last disaster.

Would you be willing to float around in a giant tennis ball looking contraption? I have a feeling if it was a last choice during a flood or tsunami we would have the National Guard collecting a lot of floating tennis balls very quickly.

Meet The New “Noah’s Ark” Built Specifically For Japanese Tsunami’s is a post from: The Inquisitr

A survey done on 700 Japanese students of the Soka Gakkai Tohoku have shown changes in attitudes after the March 11, 2011 “triple disaster” of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident.

When seeking employment, the students’ key purpose had previously been about earning money (23.2%). After the disasters, students are now focused on “helping others” (188%) and “attaining a stable life” (17.7%). Many have also shown that their motivation is now for the sake of the community (16.8%).

When asked on what issues their views had changed, 19.9% of respondents stated that their views on nuclear power had changed (this figure was higher, at 23%, among students from the affected areas), 18.1% indicated a shift in their perspective on the importance of helping others and 17.7% a change in their appreciation for the basics of daily life such as shelter, food and clothing.

Hironobu Nakamura, Soka Gakkai Tohoku student division leader, comments:

“Many of our student members have been helping out with relief efforts. They wanted through this survey to listen to and broadcast the voices of their peers. Before the disaster many people were commenting on the lack of human connections in Japanese society. The results clearly indicate how much people value these connections now.”

Was there a positive outcome from the “triple disaster”? About 45% mentioned the strengthening of links between people. In terms of lessons they had learned, 34.2% stressed the need for disaster preparedness and 21.1% highlighted the importance of caring for others.

It’s a little disheartening that it would need a disaster to change our outlook and attitude for the better.

Japanese Students Show Changes in Outlook Since March Triple Disaster is a post from: The Inquisitr

Remember that little do who ended up lost at sea for three weeks following the earthquake, and the tsunami that followed it?

Well it turns out that the dog, whose name is Ban, was reunited with her owner following an incredible rescue at sea,

Kleenex line-up at the left there folks.

via Geekosystem

Your Aww Moment of the Day – Tsunami Dag reunited with owner [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to Andriasang, some of the biggest contributions have come from Nintendo ($3.65m), SEGA Sammy ($2.45m) and Sony ($3.65m and 30,000 radios). Dead or Alive publisher Tecmo has donated $123,000, while Namco Bandai has contributed $1.23m and closed its arcades to help conserve much-needed energy.

Namco Bandai is not alone in attempting to save power – companies are also turning off game servers, with Square Enix and Konami shutting down online play in Final Fantasy MMOs and Metal Gear Solid 4 respectively.

Awesome, heart-warming work, all of you!

The image for this article, by the way, is from Capcom’s Tatsuro Iwamoto, art director for the wonderful Phoenix Wright series of games. According to the dudes at Tiny Cartridge, the text above Phoenix, Miles, and Maya reads: “Let’s work hard and not be defeated by the earthquake!!” Indeed.

See also: You can find the English language version of the Japanese Red Cross Society site here.

[Via Andriasang]

Game companies dig deep, donate to Japan relief efforts is a post from: The Inquisitr

A second strong earthquake has hit Japan, this time in a totally different location than the earlier 8.9 magnitude quake that was followed by deadly tsunamis.

The 6.6 magnitude quake was felt in Tokyo, but no initial reports of damage, injury or death have surfaced. The seismic activity was centered northwest of Toyko. Local news sources describe the pre-dawn quake’s precise location:

The [Japan Meteorological Agency] did not issue a tsunami warning. The 3:59 a.m. quake hit areas including Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, which is far from the Pacific coastal area jolted by a magnitude 8.8 quake the previous day.

The BBC was quoted as reporting that dozens of aftershocks have rocked Japan since the massive earthquake hit several hours ago, but the 6.6 quake later in the day was in an entirely different spot. David Applegate, a senior science advisor with the USGS, says the first quake was the strongest to hit Japan in over 1,200 years.

The death toll for the 8.9 magnitude quake is at around 300, but is expected to rise when damage can be fully assessed in daylight hours.

[Image]

Second 6.6 quake hits near Tokyo, no immediate reports of damage is a post from: The Inquisitr

Details are scant right now, but it appears the death toll from the earlier devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in Japan has risen sharply with the discovery of 200 to 300 bodies on a beach in Sendai.

Prior to the reported discovery reported by police, death tolls officially hovered in the 50-60 range, with a similar amount of people reported missing. The bodies were believed to have been discovered by Miyagi Police in the Wakabayashi Ward in the city of Sendai:

The police believe the bodies are those of residents who were hit by a tsunami after the strongest recorded earthquake to hit Japan rocked the northeast of the country including the prefecture.

All households in the area are believed to have been affected by the tsunami. Reports indicate the airport has also been “flooded badly.”

[Image]

Report: 200 to 300 bodies discovered on beach in Sendai, Japan is a post from: The Inquisitr

Spokesman for the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management John M. Cummings III cautioned Hawaiians that the tsunami warning in the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunamis in Japan is “very, very serious” and warned that people located “in the shoreline areas” need to “get out now.”

Tsunami warnings have been sounding since 10 pm local time last night, and continue to occur hourly, with waves of six feet predicted in some areas. The west coast of the US is also under tsunami watch, including coastal areas in California and Washington. Chip McCreary, of the the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, spoke to press about the dangers:

“These are not like surf waves,” he said. “These waves effectively wrap around islands, so all coasts will be affected.”

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also cautioned those in affected areas that “urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property. Tsunami waves effectively wrap around islands. All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face.”

[LAT, Twitpic]

Hawaiians seek higher ground, tsunami warning reaches to 53 countries is a post from: The Inquisitr

Although the threats of tsunami’s over the weekend were somewhat of an anti-climax, that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a little bit of activity in the water, at least in Hawaii.

A long with the blanket media coverage, there were also some amateur shots taken as well as the waves surged in, including one idiot who was standing on the beach waiting for it to come in.

We can’t warn enough: if there is a tsunami reported to be coming, no matter how big or small, get well away.

Here’s one Hawaii tsunami 2010 videos:

Hawaii Tsunami 2010 Video is a post from: The Inquisitr

Loud sirens are sounding across Hawaii as residents prepare for a possible tsunami triggered by the massive quake in Chile.

Those in coastal areas are being urged to evacuate, and any “event” is not expected earlier than 4:05pm Pacific. The warnings are dire as residents flood gas stations and local Wal-Marts to stock up ahead of the possible tsunami:

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Director Charles McCreery said Hawaii would see some effect from the earthquake.

“We believe it will be a threat here in Hawaii, that’s why we initiated a warning, not only for a Hawaii, but for the entire Pacific,” McCreery said.

Asked by CNN affiliate KHON whether it was possible Hawaii wouldn’t see any effect from the earthquake, McCreery said, “No, I wouldn’t say that’s possible at all. I think there’s no chance we’ll see no effect from this event.

“So people need to take this very seriously.”

But he added, “We’re not expecting this to be a worst-case scenario, but we are expecting … dangerous waves coming on shore, and people need to take it very seriously.”

Evacuation shelters are said to not be open, and there is no word as to whether plans are in place to operate shelters in evacuation zones:

John Cummings, Oahu Emergency Management Department spokesman, told The Honolulu Advertiser that “If you live anywhere in the evacuation zone, you have to evacuate.

“This is a serious event. We’re going to treat this as a destructive-type tsunami.”

The state’s two U.S. senators, Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka, urged Hawaii residents to remain calm.

“If you live in an evacuation zone I urge you to gather your family and please leave the area,” Inouye said.

After the first wave hits, the threat is supposed to last several hours as the wave field ricochets across the islands.

Sirens sound in Hawaii to warn of Tsunami threat is a post from: The Inquisitr

NOAA’s West Coast and Alaska Tsunami warning service has issued a Tsunami advisory for California and Oregon following the earthquake in Somoa earlier this morning.

The center said that waves up to 1 foot higher than regular waves should reach the West Coast around 9pm PDT.

A statement on the Center’s website reads “a tsunami advisory indicates a tsunami which may produce strong currents and is dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected. Large inundations are not expected in areas under advisory status. Advisories will be canceled, extended, or upgraded to a warning depending on the event severity. Advisories are issued when the expected tsunami amplitude is in the range of 0.3 to 1 meter.”

While the service says that there is no need to panic, people in low lying areas, or near the coast would be wise to put some space between themselves and the shoreline.

Tsunami Advisory Issued for California, Oregon is a post from: The Inquisitr

An earthquake triggered a small scale tsunami in American Samoa around dawn Tuesday, approximately 12:48pm EST.

Residents fled for higher ground and at least one village (Sau Sau Beach Fale) was “leveled,” although there were no immediate reports of fatalities. The earthquake, which the USGS reports occurred 120 miles offshore and 20 miles underwater, caused shaking that reportedly lasted three minutes. Shortly thereafter, a tsunami swept through Pago Pago, reaching about 300 feet inland.

Local media reports say that while some homes and vehicles were affected by the quake, there were no reports of serious injury or deaths. In Honolulu, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the Samoas, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, French Polynesia and Palmyra Island.

[Source: AP]

American Samoa hit by Tsunami is a post from: The Inquisitr

After being involved with computers, software and the web for the better part of the last twenty years I have I guess in a lot of ways become rather jaded at all the pronouncement that come our way. This is going to change the web, that is going to change the web, superlatives are constantly being thrown around. In the end though most of these have really been nothing more than improvements upon what we already have been using.

That could very well change with Google Wave.

I don’t say this lightly but from everything that I have been reading (and trying hard to digest) for the last few hours I have a gut feeling that Google Wave could very well be one of those rare cusp moments when the way we do things really change. Not only will it change the way we do things but that change stands a very good chance of being persuasive because Google will be making Wave open sourced and with an open protocol. This means that literally anyone will be able to become a wave provider. The only thing I haven’t been able to clearly understand yet is if separate Waves will be able to communicate with each other, at this point I can only assume so given the open nature planned for Wave.

If you want a clearer understanding of what Wave will be able to do I recommend reading Tim O’Reilly’s post at the O’Reilly Radar blog as he breaks it down pretty good. the short form though is imagine combining your contacts, e-mail, IM, instant interaction, drag and drop browser interaction, the ability to playback a complete conversation and do this all in real time through your browser. As O’Reilly puts it

Let’s say I want to communicate with someone. I start a wave, just as I might start an email message. The recipient(s) see an incoming wave, just as they see an email today. Where the magic starts is with replies. In email, you have the choice of including no context, only a portion of the message you’re replying to, or the whole thing. In the first case, you need to go back to the original message for context; in the second, you have wasted copies going back and forth. Come into the middle of a long thread and you may be replying to a discussion that has already moved on or covered the point you want to express. But what if there were only one message, shared in the cloud? Now, your comment on the second paragraph is attached directly to that point in the conversation. There are no redundant copies of portions of the message, as replies are seen in context.

While it is still early days and much of Wave is still being worked on this is what your browser desktop could look like (courtesy of O’Reilly Radar)

In the video I watch with the team behind Wave they might not have wanted to admit that this is a Twitter killer, in fact they went to great lengths to say it was an addition to it, but if I was Twitter; and quite possibly FriendFeed, I would be very nervous at this point. Once Wave steps beyond the developer playground stage I believe we will see a major shift in how the Web is used.

From a bloggers point of view this could one of the best things that happens as from the beginning Wave is being built so that we can include a Wave as part of a post which means any conversation in that wave about the post can happen real-time. This is all a part of the incredibly rich API that is being built in the Wave platform. Again from Tim O’Reilly’s post

The API has been used to build a bunch of cool extensions: Bloggy, a blog client, lets you make a blog post as a wave. When people comment, they join the conversation. Spelly is a spell-checker that uses the entire corpus of the web as its dictionary. Linky is a link-recognition engine that is clever enough to recognize that the link you just entered is a YouTube video, or a link to a photo, and give you the option to embed the target of the link into the wave. There’s even a twitter client – you can tweet into and out of a wave! And of course, buggy, a bug-reporting tool that can also be a participant in a wave.

My one problem with this is that it is currently all browser based and I am not a believer of living and breathing in the browser. What I do hope is that because of this rich API, and hopefully developer environment Google wants to create around Wave, that this could also transform our desktops. that however remains to be seen but damn it almost makes me want to crack out me old developer tools.

Now I don’t know what the timetable is for this to actually become something that we can start using everyday (I’ve signed up for notifications of this) but I can tell you I haven’t felt this excited about something happening on the web as I am about this.

Could this really be the wave of our web future?

There’s a tsunami coming to the web – Google Wave is a post from: The Inquisitr