the tsunami is a sign to those living on the “rim of fire” that if you live in a place that is within the earthquake zone sooner or later volcanic eruptions and all their devastating effects are a distinct possibility. You have to decide if the benefits of climate, fertile soil, jobs, whatever outweigh the dangers of living in this zone. If you live on the gulf coast or eastern seaboard of the US sooner or later you will experience the effects of a hurricane, you have to decide if the benefits outweigh the dangers. If you live in the upper midwest, sooner or later you are going to go through a blizzard, and will experience hazardous driving conditions through 4 months of the year. Are the benefits of living there greater than the dangers? Living on earth is full of hazards of every kind, 98% of which we are helpless to protect against. It is a condition of life. As for those who died, none of us has a warning, each of us must always maintain our soul ready for death and judgement-you know not the day nor the hour. The tsunami victims are consigned to the mercy of God–what condition outside heaven could be greater and safer?
for any human to state categorically that the tsunami is God’s judgement against sinful people is presumption of the worst kind and borders on blasphemy. Even the Church does not presume to judge whether those who have died are condemned, only to judge on the basis of virtue those who have been raised to heaven.
