It’s heartbreaking watching the news today. As we stare open mouthed at our televisions it’s hard to imagine the magnitude of what has happened in Japan and what is about to happen in the rest of the Pacific. Tidal wave alerts are in force in Russia, Hawaii, The Philippines, Indonesia, Alaska, Central America and even South America. The Tsunami that resulted from the largest earthquake to hit the country since records began over a hundred years ago has already hit the north east coast of Japan. Its magnitude has been put at 8.8 on the Richter scale with some reports putting the wave height of the tsunami at 10 metres. To give it some scale the earthquake that hit Christchurch last month was 6.3.

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Following the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that has killed at least 65 people and injured scores of others in Christchurch, New Zealand, the underwriters of World First travel insurance policies have stressed that they will offer 24 hour assistance and aid – and of course medical cover –  to any insured caught up in the disaster.

In 24 hours that New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key has described as being possibly ‘New Zealand’s darkest day’ the South Island city of Christchurch suffered major damage to buildings in what is proving to be the country’s deadliest disaster. Over 120 people are reported to have been rescued from collapsed buildings.

Anyone who is insured by World First and has been caught up in the disaster is advised to get in touch. Emergency repatriation to the UK and  will be assessed on a case by case basis, say Professional Travel Insurance Company Limited.

They have also stated that delayed departure will be covered on World First policies for anyone who has been delayed on public transport in the aftermath of the disaster although they will not accept claims for trip cancellation. Anyone who is due to fly to Christchurch or have a holiday in Christchurch is advised to get in touch with their tour operator or travel agent to arrange for alternative travel and accommodation arrangements.

The Foreign Office has issued the following travel advice for New Zealand:

“Christchurch Airport is closed except for emergency aircraft. The Ferrymead bridge is reported to be impassable because of rising water. Christchurch hospital is in operation. A Crisis Response Centre has been established at Christchurch Art Gallery.

For advice and assistance in relation to the Christchurch earthquake British nationals in New Zealand should call 04 9242898.” 

For more information please see the Foreign Office website here.

In recent months Thailand has been embroiled in political turmoil opposing the red-shirted supporters of former Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra and government forces backed by the military. The six-party coalition is under pressure from its supporters in the upper classes and from royalists to crack down on the mainly poor red shirts.

Thailand has a constitutional monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej who has been on the throne since June 1946, making him the world’s longest reigning king. The government is freely-elected with a Prime Minister at its head. However, the military has had a tendency to intervene from time to time when it doesn’t like the government or it does something it doesn’t to upset it. The last time was in 2006 to remove the previously mentioned Taksin Shinawatra. Perhaps they didn’t like him buying Manchester City? (more…)

Because if you get a problem, the Embassy or Consulate or whatever it’s called will be around to help you. Won’t they?

Well, they won’t. There is a limited amount of things the Foreign Office can do for you, but getting you home isn’t one of them. Our friend Danny went away recently. It has to be said that he was particularly unlucky, but any one of the things that happened to him could happen to you. Have a look at this video to see what happened.

Then again, whilst you might not get into trouble, there’s all kinds of things that could go wrong

Many years ago when I was a teenager, I set off with a mate from school on a train (well, a few trains) across Europe with a final destination of Istanbul. We both went away with backpacks, tickets and passports, our wits and not much else. We had the transit visas for Yugoslavia and Bulgaria that we needed in those days when the Berlin Wall was still very much in still standing, but that was about all the planning we did. We had a couple of scrapes, particularly losing each other in Belgrade when the coaches were shunted off to a different platform. (more…)