January 9, 2007: Island blown up by gas cooker

Undertoad • Jan 9, 2007 3:15 pm
Image

(Thanks to lurker Spacecow.) Off the northern coast of Panama are a bunch of sandbars and tiny little islands. One mile north of the coast is the island of Soledad Miria. Over 1000 people live there.

Or at least they used to. Just before the end of the year, a gas cooker malfunctioned, creating a massive explosion and fire that leveled over half the dwellings there.

The blast caused an inferno that leapt from hut to hut, taking less than ten minutes to sweep across half the shanty town-style community.

As gas cylinders in more wooden homes exploded, many of Soledad Miria's 1,014 inhabitants dived into the sea or took to fishing boats to escape.

More than a third - 348 - were injured but, amazingly, no one died.
glatt • Jan 9, 2007 3:32 pm
That's horrible, but I have to wonder if the others are saying to themselves "Hey, look at all that space over there. Now I can build the big shack I always dreamed of."
Undertoad • Jan 9, 2007 3:49 pm
I have to think that the people on that little mini-island at the bottom feel better about their decision to remain aloof.
barefoot serpent • Jan 9, 2007 4:16 pm
as long as they don't burn their bridges...
BigV • Jan 9, 2007 4:19 pm
I told you deep frying turkeys can be dangerous. [/scold]
Shawnee123 • Jan 9, 2007 4:31 pm
Undertoad;305786 wrote:
I have to think that the people on that little mini-island at the bottom feel better about their decision to remain aloof.


That must be where the Grand Poobah lives.
Griff • Jan 9, 2007 5:07 pm
Google Earth has that labeled as Moderator Island...
xoxoxoBruce • Jan 9, 2007 6:34 pm
I wonder what caused the fire to stop along that line?:confused:
Sheldonrs • Jan 9, 2007 6:35 pm
xoxoxoBruce;305830 wrote:
I wonder what caused the fire to stop along that line?:confused:


1000+ people all urinating at the same time.
barefoot serpent • Jan 9, 2007 6:37 pm
orrrrrrrrrr, that's where it started and the wind was blowing right-to-left.
tw • Jan 9, 2007 7:12 pm
glatt;305781 wrote:
That's horrible, but I have to wonder if the others are saying to themselves "Hey, look at all that space over there. Now I can build the big shack I always dreamed of."
They are also saying the same thing in New Orleans' ninth ward.
richlevy • Jan 9, 2007 7:18 pm
BigV;305794 wrote:
I told you deep frying turkeys can be dangerous. [/scold]
Darn, he beat me to it.:right:
wolf • Jan 10, 2007 1:42 am
That was no gas cooker fire. El Gordito was horsing around with his buds and said something on the order of "Pedro, hold my cerveza, por favor, while I light my farts. I ate like a gallon of refried beans, man!"
SPUCK • Jan 10, 2007 6:13 am
Google Earth has that labeled as Moderator Island...


I think they dun run clean outta moderator that day.
Bromskloss • Jan 10, 2007 7:12 am
SPUCK;305978 wrote:
I think they dun run clean outta moderator that day.


Haha! Very aptly, but I had to read it a couple of times before I got it. :)
xoxoxoBruce • Jan 10, 2007 10:25 am
Maybe not, maybe the Moderator saved half the island. :D
Shawnee123 • Jan 10, 2007 10:28 am
The people who got voted off the island are breathing a huge sigh of relief and saying "naa naa naa naa naa na."
Undertoad • Jan 10, 2007 10:39 am
Flame wars can be devastating.
glatt • Jan 10, 2007 10:44 am
Does this image remind anyone else of SimCity after a fire disaster, but before the Sims rebuild? I should try to find a screen shot of that old game.