A muted launch...

Dear reader

I had planned to launch the Roblog on 1 October with a lighthearted and whimsical look at China.

However, the main headlines on the news yesterday were not China’s military parade and the pomp and ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China celebrations; and the newspapers this morning will almost certainly not feature a stony-faced Hu Jintao in his ‘Mao-suit’, presiding over his ‘new and modern army’ on the front page.

Straight after the UK’s main story (another depressing child abuse case, this time in a Plymouth nursery) were scenes of devastation from elsewhere in the Asia Pacific.

Typhoon Ketsana has ripped through Southeast Asia leaving at least 277 people dead in the Philippines, 92 people dead in Vietnam and 14 dead in Cambodia (with a further 10 people reported missing in Laos).

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, was hit by the worst floods in 40 years during the weekend, submerging up to 80% of the city and affecting nearly 2 million residents.

Aid workers today reported that they are fearful Typhoon Parma (due to make landfall in the Philippines soon) will hamper relief efforts already underway with little clue as to whether it’ll change direction and fizzle out or turn into a ‘super-typhoon’.

In pictures: Philippines floods (BBC)

In pictures: Philippines floods (Guardian)

In pictures: Philippines hit by typhoon (Telegraph)

On Tuesday 29 September American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga were hit by a Tsunami following an 8.3 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Samoa. The confirmed number of deaths in these three small countries exceeds 150 people but is expected to be much more. Thousands have been left homeless.

After inspecting the southeast coast of the main island Upolu, the hardest-hit area in Samoa, Samoan Prime Minster Tuilaepa Sailele has said ‘the devastation caused [is] complete’. He went on to say “in some villages absolutely no house was standing”.

His own village of Lesa had been washed away.

In pictures: Pacific Tsunami (BBC)

In pictures: Tsunami devastates Samoa and Western Samoa (Guardian)

In pictures: Samoa Tsunami (Telegraph)

The following day two earthquakes struck not far from Padang on the Indonesian island of Sumatra (one a massive 7.9 on the Richter scale). The death toll already stands at well over 1100 people according to the UN, and is likely to rise much higher in the next few days.

The earthquake stuck in the late afternoon and brought down hospitals, schools and shopping malls whilst people were going about their day.

In pictures: Indonesia quake (BBC)

In pictures: Sumatra hit by second earthquake (Guardian)

In pictures: Indonesia earthquake (Telegraph)

I visited Indonesia in 2003 when the SARS virus closed the school I worked at in Hong Kong. Shortly after I arrived in Jakarta ‘Operation Iraqi Liberation’ began. Opposition to the war was strong in Indonesia and students marched the streets declaring the beginning of a new war of religions and quite strongly hinting that any westerners should ‘go home’. Despite this, however, I don’t think I have ever met a friendlier and welcoming people in the whole world.

I enjoyed every moment in that country and my thoughts are with them at this time.

Please donate to UNICEF's Asia Pacific disasters children's fund