Asia's Deadly Himalayan Fault

Experts have long been warning of the danger of serious earthquakes in South Asia - and say more are likely.

Many have struck along the southern flanks of the Himalayas over past centuries - but not enough to account for all the steady, northward movement of India into Asia.

The earthquake in Pakistan is the result of India's long-term, gradual, geological movement north into Asia at a speed of five centimetres a year - a millimetre per week.

Earthquakes happen when energy stored up along geological faults, like the Himalayan thrust, is suddenly released.

The trouble is, the more time passes without seismic release, the more energy accumulates, making a giant earthquake more likely." More...

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke with the foreign ministers of both Pakistan and India yesterday to offer ``whatever assistance may be needed,'' according to an e-mailed statement from the U.S. State Department. Our suggestion... Let's do what we can to help those folks but do them and favor, don't send FEMA !