Earthquakes the Problem of Evil

[kerry]

Lisbon, in 1755 suffered a similar fate to that of the countries surrounding the Indian Ocean today. An offshore earthquake of about the same magnitude of the one off Sumatra, and resulting tsunami destroyed much of the city. European freethinkers took it as good evidence that an omnipotent and omnibenevolent God could not exist, while others, frightened by sudden death, converted to Christianity.
Do recent events reinforce the atheist conclusion? How could an all good and all powerful God be the cause of the terrible suffering and pain we have witnessed in the last few days? Non of the standard explanations of free will, sin, or pain for the sake of greater goods, seem capable of justifying the ways of God to man.