February 16, 2017
Ten months ago, a subtle 4.8 ‘bump’ gave no fair warning of the 7.8 nightmare that would soon turn Ecuador’s northern coastline upside down. No one suspected that in ten minutes, they’d be scrambling for safety as the earth rolled in spasms and tossed people across rooms like a cat toying with a mouse. From Catholic News.com story about Jama, “The ground moved like waves on the ocean,” he recalls, while a pall of sulfurous-smelling haze rose over the town.”
Over the months, various people described that terrifying minute and its after effects:
“My sister was outside, and she wrapped her arms around a light pole and hung tight until it stopped.”
“From the upstairs window it looked very black to the north, and then the house started shaking. I ran to the kitchen and turned off the gas.” She choked back tears and told how the house rocked back and forth before starting to fall.
One man described how the earth pulled apart and a geyser of black water (?) shot skyward behind his shattered home.
“I don’t know how I got out alive. Things were falling, crashing, and I had to crawl…”
“I reached town, and everyone was gone. I did not know where they were.”
“There was a tsunami warning, but I first checked on my parents and then went to the hills. We spent the night on the hillside.”
“We swam across the river to get to town.”
“Thieves stole from the pharmacy after we left for the tsunami warning.”
“We were too scared to go back inside. We sat in the street until morning.”
“Look; I lost everything. I don’t have any clothes.” she frowned at her hand-made blouse and shrugged.
“Lee-sah!’ One person called from the far side of the street yesterday. A look of desperation bled through his attempted smile. This man with the perpetually-happy personality seemed broken; he explained that his family was still living in a tent, and he was concerned about providing food for them.
I’ve been working on posts to share stories of different people who have opened their hearts and invited me into their make-shift homes. Two posts will follow today, and more as time permits.
Thank you in advance for reading with an open and loving heart.
Lisa
hughcurtler said:
We have many problems, but earthquakes are not on the list, thank heaven! It sounds terrifying! Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again for a very long while.
Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
Yes, everyone here – and in any area affected by a devstating quake – hopes that one is enough for a lifetime. Unfortunately that Ring of Fire is like a roulette wheel…
emilievardaman said:
I was in two very tiny earthquakes. One was in Guatemala and it was over by the time I figured I had better run outside. I cannot imagine the horror of such serious shaking and rolling. And to have my house collapse? Lose everything?
Every time I hear of something like this I feel extraordinarily fortunate.
What strong brave people – able to start over again from zero and go on.
Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
They describe it with such intensity of emotion that it becomes very real, that moment of horror they faced. Yes, they are strong and brave.
Thank you, Emilie. May your world never jolt you into scramblng for safety from a massive quake.
Gwen Rhodes said:
resilent..that is the word you used in the last post and another one I see…gratitude for what they do have and their ability to…pick up …help one another and move forward…a lesson we all need…thank you so very much…
Jude said:
That list of comments said it all Lisa. It must be a very good feeling being able to help people rebuild.
Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
just listening to the different people is a very humbling experience. thank you!
Sue Dreamwalker said:
I am ever thankful of where i was born.. and although we have felt slight earth tremors where we live even here in the middle of the UK. I can not even begin to imagine the devastation such large ones leave behind.. So my thoughts forever go out in admiration to all who pick up their lives after such events. ❤
Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
their stories of that 7 pm earthquake are pretty amazing.. many times i hear, ‘i thought it was the end of the world.’ some say there was a horrible sound as well…..
Sue Dreamwalker said:
Yes, I have often heard that accompanying an Earthquake the noise of the rumble of the earth is intense.. Thankfully we have only ever experiences small tremors here in England. One which shook us in bed and made our wardrobes and doors all bang.. Cracking our concrete drive too. ..
Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
that sounds like a pretty intense earthquake!
Sue Dreamwalker said:
No not really it was only a 5 I think but it hit the midlands.. we sit over coal mining tunnels.. Not a happy thought as they have given permissions to go ahead with Fracking now in the UK..
thirdeyemom said:
What a terrifying experience. Thank you for sharing everyone’s stories with the world. These stories are sadly not heard or shared much in mainstream media.
Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
More stories were shared yesterday.. so many people who have ‘little voice’ — but if i were working on photos and writing the entire time, i’d not be ‘out there’ with them… thanks for your empathy for what they’ve endured.
bluebrightly said:
It must be tough to see so much suffering, so long afterwards. I must have missed a post or two way back, and I’ve been wondering about your own place – what is the situation there?
Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
i was there today. two corners f the house have problems but it’s nothing compared to so many… the bigger probem is that that side yard keeps leaping into the river.. teh side yard is the entrance, as there is no ‘front’yard.. the river is the front yard!!! will wait to see what happens wth the rainy season…
New Earth Paradigm said:
“Reading with an open heart” seems like too little to “do” under these circumstances.Thank you for continuing to perk our awareness of the dire conditions that still exist 10 months after this event. Also thinking of the people in Haiti who are suffering still, after 7 YEARS! Going to read the next two episodes right now.
Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
ah, but having an open heart is so important to the web that connects us all.. but you know that!!!! thank you, dear friend!
New Earth Paradigm said:
It’s OK to remind me; I forget it a lot. Thank you, Alia
Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua said:
Lisa, so often we only get a newspaper account of tragedies and I am very grateful for your first hand accounts. You personalize the earthquake and express so eloquently the feelings and reactions of the people. Thank you for this.