When we saw the news this morning about the earthquake in Sumatra — just across the Straits of Malacca from where we are — I commented that Malaysia should be safe from the threat of tsunami because the earthquake was on the far side of the island of Sumatra. Obviously, I was wrong.

As the death tolls continue to rise throughout the night, it's clear that the greatest devastation has occured in India and Sri Lanka, although it is chilling to see the see images of destruction from Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia and Phuket and Kerabi in Thailand, all of which we have visited. The southern end of Peninsular Malaysia appears to have avoided the the destructive tsunamis. In any case, Kuala Lumnpur is sufficiently inland that we would not have been in danger anyway.

Thanks to those who have expressed concern. Please keep the people of Southeast Asia who have suffered this catastrophe in your thoughts and prayers.