Tsunamis are giant and long ocean waves that are generated by an underwater volcanic eruption or earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 7. During an underwater earthquake, sections of the ocean floor are shifted, which forms a series of destructive waves. Their speed can reach 1000 km / h, and the height - up to 50 m and above. About 80% of tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean.
Tsunami in Thailand (2004), Phuket December 26, 2004 - this day went down in history as the day of a tragedy of gigantic proportions that took a huge number of lives. At this time, the tsunami occurred in Phuket (2004). Patong, Karon, other beaches suffered the most. At 07:58 local time, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of up to 9.3 occurred at the bottom of the Indian Ocean near Simelue Island. It set off a large series of giant waves that people around the world still remember with fear and regret. Water killers in a few hours took the lives of about 300 thousand people and caused terrible destruction on the shores of Asia.
Today, many tourists are interested in which beaches in Phuket had a tsunami. These tourists hope that the answer to this question will allow them to choose Phuket's tsunami-safe beaches. But in fact, there are no beaches in Phuket that are safe in this regard. Although the beaches in the east of the island are, in principle, safe from tsunamis (a destructive tsunami is impossible in the shallow Phang Nga Bay), a few tourists from Russia rest on these beaches.
There are different opinions about how high the tsunami wave was in Phuket in 2004. Some sources say that the wave height was about 30 meters. But if the wave had been that high, the death toll would have been much higher. In fact, the height of the wave is on average “only” 5 meters, but the fact is that this wave moved at a very high speed, which was approximately 600 km / h. Imagine what kind of impact force such a wave has. Due to the high speed of this wave, many tourists simply did not have time to escape, but the damage on these beaches was noticeably lower than on Patong and Karon.
Arriving the night before in Phuket and spending the night looking for surviving Russians in hospitals in Phuket and five surrounding provinces, on the morning of December 27, driving along a relatively intact section of the embankment in the Patong Beach area, we first saw in the light of day and realized the extent of the destruction. Completely collapsed and dilapidated houses of the first line, cars half sticking out of the windows of the third floor, and a small car wrapped around a cracked concrete pillar, so that the front bumper was in contact with the rear. The bodies of the dead were no longer on the streets, there was only debris from the wooden buildings demolished by the wave and mangled cars and motorcycles, and this made the picture even more terrible: the imagination completed the missing ones. In Patong, the wave was “only” up to three to five meters high, but its speed at the moment of impact reached 500 kilometers per hour. Palm trees stood on the embankment, bare as lampposts, not broken by the wave, but completely devoid of leaves.
How were the victims of the tsunami buried in Phuket?
The story of how the victims of the tsunami in Phuket were buried deserves special mention. Phuket after the tsunami became the main gathering place for all the dead, who were brought here from other parts of Thailand. Over time, the death toll became so huge that there was nowhere to store them, as morgues, hospital basements and refrigerators were completely packed. Then it was decided to temporarily bury the unidentified bodies that were literally rotting in the sun. In the 2006 film Tsunami: The Aftermath, there was footage of the bodies of the dead being burned in furnaces, but as far as we know, there was nothing like that. Although some of the bodies were indeed burned in ovens, these were the bodies of Thais and other Asians who practiced Buddhism. That is, these were ordinary cremation ceremonies, and not disposal of corpses.
Hello everyone! Vladimir Raichev is in touch. This Friday morning, I invite you to talk again about the history of disasters. One of the most terrible cataclysms of our century is the tsunami of 2004. December 26, 2004 is a truly fatal day for several countries of our planet at once. Today we will have to talk about what happened.
- The most destructive volcanoes of the past, future and present.
According to scientists, the first earthquake occurred in the depths of the Indian Ocean, not far from the islands of Indonesia. The magnitude of the tremors was, according to various sources, from 8.0 to 9.3. This cataclysm was included in the list of the most powerful in the history of our planet. Only in 1960 in Chile and in 1964 in Alaska the shaking was stronger. But the number of deaths in those years was insignificant, since the affected areas were not densely populated.
A large section of the earth's crust (the Indian Plate) that morning moved almost 1,500 km at once (although it usually moves no further than 7 cm annually). As a result of this, the Indian plate "drove" under the neighboring plate. With such a sharp movement, the ocean floor rose - this was the cause of that large-scale tsunami. Under extraordinary pressure, water rushed in all directions.
To understand how great the pressure released then was, it is enough to imagine that with all the energy received, more than 150 liters of water could be boiled for every person on our planet.
The force of the catastrophe was so great that it affected the speed of the Earth! Scientists have not yet been able to determine the exact figure, but it is believed that as a result of what happened, the duration of the Earth's day decreased by more than 2 microseconds.
It may seem like a small thing, but on a global scale, this figure is impressive. In addition, for a couple of minutes, the Earth "wobbled" around its orbit (this is a rare phenomenon).
Several Indonesian islands were literally moved from their place. The movement was not only horizontal: many coastal areas were flooded with water and remain under it to this day.
What was the tsunami like?
The waves formed gradually, only a couple of hours after the shock, the crest height was more than 60 cm. The water overtook the Indonesian coast islands, the Indian coast, Thailand, Sri Lanka and even South Africa (overcoming more than 8000 km).
The impact was terrifying. For comparison: the energy released by the strike was several times greater than the amount of energy obtained from the explosion of all ammunition during the Second World War (including the nuclear bombs that destroyed two cities in Japan). It is difficult for the human mind to even imagine such a thing.
The height of the water killer in some areas reached 20 meters. The water passed more than 2 km of the coast, sweeping away everything in its path.
How does all this affect people?
At the beginning of the 21st century, mankind has already managed to explore space, visit the moon, destroy several hundred species of animals and plants, invent cures for many diseases ... But they did not come up with a tsunami detection system.
On that day, people were completely unprepared for trouble, despite the fact that it took more than 7 hours to reach some countries! And in 7 hours it was possible to have time to evacuate almost the entire country. Surprisingly, most of the animals inhabiting the affected countries were saved by rising to the hills in time.
The last large-scale tsunami occurred more than half a century ago, without claiming many lives. Therefore, the world was not particularly familiar with the very concept of "tsunami". People have seen animals fleeing from the shore, as the water recedes, revealing the seabed.
According to surviving eyewitnesses, a suspicious silence hung in the air: the usual sound of the surf, the cries of birds were not heard. But all these oddities did not make people run away from the ocean, but only spurred curiosity. Whole crowds of onlookers roamed the shallow bottom, collecting discarded shells and fish.
Meanwhile, the tsunami was approaching, rushing at a speed of more than 100 km / h. The water was insidious: the crest of the wave was not the usual white color, so people saw the deadly wall only when it came too close.
Houses, hotels and the entire coastline as a whole were not able to withstand the impact of the elements: the walls crumbled like toys. Thus, the tsunami became even more deadly: not just tons of water rushed through the streets. It was a stream of dirt, debris, trees and cars. People were simply crushed by rubbish.
The wave has already hit the Aceh province (Indonesia), killing thousands of people, and on the beaches of Thailand, people were still basking in the sun. There was absolutely no warning system and no evacuation scheme.
The exact number of deaths is unknown. According to official figures - more than 225,000 people (for comparison: the population of Veliky Novgorod is 220,000 people). The calculations were complicated by the fact that people disappeared in whole settlements, streets, families. That is, no one could declare them missing, there was no one left at all who would remember them.
The authorities could rely only on the population census. Moreover, in Thailand, Somalia, India, there is a huge number of undocumented residents leading a semi-nomadic lifestyle. A third of all the dead and missing are children, because it was they who physically lacked the strength to save.
Thousands of people were swept into the open ocean. December is the peak tourist season in Thailand, so the tsunami claimed the lives of citizens of Europe and even Australia.
The situation was aggravated by the fact that search work had to be carried out as soon as possible, because when the water left, the corpses of people lay everywhere, decomposing in the terrible heat. All this could lead to the development of entire epidemics, so the authorities were in a hurry as best they could.
Those who miraculously survived the first wave made two mistakes. Mistakes that later turned out to be fatal:
- One part was in a state of shock and was afraid to even move. People remained in their hiding places, not daring to leave. But after the first wave came the second. And then the third, which, in turn, "finished off" those who did not have time to escape;
- Another part of the people, having waited out the first wave in the shelter, left it, rushing to the coastline. Someone was looking for his family and friends, someone wanted to see if there was something left of his home, and many rushed to help the victims. Repeated waves found those who managed to escape first.
Amid all this chaos, there were also stories of miraculous salvation. Those who seemed to have no chance managed to survive and start living anew:
The 8-year-old girl Vati was swept into the ocean by a stream of water. Relatives could not find her anywhere and had already come to terms with the loss, when one day, after as many as 7 years, an acquaintance brought home an already grown child. It turned out that somehow Vati was able to survive. She was washed ashore in a nearby town, a few kilometers from her home. From the shock experienced, the baby lost her memory. The only thing that eventually managed to remember is the name of her grandfather. The waiter from the local cafe was familiar with the girl's family and, after comparing two tragic stories, brought Vati to her family;
The American family went scuba diving with their coach. The most powerful wave hit directly over their heads, while the group went into the depths. All they had time to notice was that the water suddenly became cloudy. The coach gave the command to rise. Once on the surface, the divers found around them the corpses of people and the remains of buildings;
One of the eyewitnesses said that he saw how a big elephant helped the children: with his trunk he wrapped around their small bodies, put them on his back and carried them out of the whirlpool of water. And another victim swears that a real crocodile saved his life that day! Mr. Gunasekeru was literally carried out of the house by the water stream, but he did not lose his head and grabbed the nearest log. But it turned out not to be a log, but a crocodile. The man assures that the reptile did not show even a hint of aggression, allowing him to grab his tail and drag the man all the way to the shore.
What happened after the tsunami?
After mourning all the dead, humanity began to analyze the catastrophe that had occurred.
Thailand has joined the international tectonic activity tracking system. Special sensors have been created that can detect tremors even at great depths in the middle of the ocean.
Many countries have developed a public warning system and an evacuation scheme in case of danger. Colossal work was also carried out to inform the population: they taught the rules of conduct in case of earthquakes, tsunamis and other cataclysms. Now detailed instructions can be seen even on the door of any hotel.
The authorities have rebuilt new buildings that can withstand the force of the shock wave of the elements: powerful beams, reinforced concrete frames, a special angle of inclination.
Gradually, the cities were able to recover: houses were rebuilt, people returned. Even tourists, over time, were able to regain confidence in their favorite paradise beaches. Only the families of the victims still remember that fateful day for all mankind.
This is what happened in the Indian Ocean. It is unfortunate that they could not prevent it or at least minimize the losses. That's all for me, subscribe to blog news to get the latest news among the first. Share the article with your friends on social networks, I'm sure they will be interested in reading. Until we meet again, bye bye.
Tsunamis are giant and long ocean waves that are generated by an underwater volcanic eruption or earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 7. During an underwater earthquake, sections of the ocean floor are shifted, which forms a series of destructive waves. Their speed can reach 1000 km / h, and the height - up to 50 m and above. About 80% of tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean.
Tsunami in Thailand (2004), Phuket
December 26, 2004 - this day went down in history as the day of the tragedy of gigantic proportions, which took a huge number of lives. At this time, the tsunami occurred in Phuket (2004). Patong, Karon, other beaches suffered the most. At 07:58 local time, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of up to 9.3 occurred at the bottom of the Indian Ocean near Simelue Island. It set off a large series of giant waves that people around the world still remember with fear and regret. Water killers in a few hours took the lives of about 300 thousand people and caused terrible destruction on the shores of Asia.
Thailand was one of the states that suffered huge losses from the onslaught of the tsunami. The disaster hit the western part of the coast. In 2004, the tsunami on the beaches of Phuket completely destroyed the infrastructure: hotels, clubs, bars. These were the most famous holiday destinations among tourists from all over the world - Karon, Patong, Kamala, Kata. It is estimated that several hundred people died.
The story of the beginning of the great catastrophe
It was a typical morning when many were still in bed, but some were already relaxing on the beach. Powerful tremors occurred at the bottom of the ocean, which led to the displacement of water. Underground strikes were completely imperceptible, and therefore no one even suspected the beginning of the disaster. At a speed of 1000 km / h, the waves rushed to the shores of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Somalia. This is how the tsunami in Phuket began (2004). Karon Beach was among the places that suffered the most.
When approaching land, the height of the water flow in some places was about 40 meters. The tsunami in Phuket in 2004 had a very powerful destructive force, even exceeding the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Approximately an hour after the underwater earthquake, strange phenomena began to occur on land: somewhere the water moved 1.5 km from the coast, the sound of the surf ceased, animals and birds began to run away in fear (to the mountains). People did not immediately understand the whole essence of the danger and collected shells from the shallow ocean floor. Since the 15 m high killer wave did not have a white crest, it was not immediately noticed from the shore. When the Phuket tsunami (2004) hit the beach, it was already too late to escape. With incredible speed, the waves crushed everything in their path. Their destructive power allowed them to penetrate two kilometers inland.
When the movement of the wave stopped, the water rushed back very quickly. It was not the water itself that carried the greatest danger, but debris, trees, cars, concrete, rebar, billboards - everything that threatened to take a person's life.
Characteristics of the 2004 Phuket tsunami
The site of the incident is the western end of the Pacific quake belt, where approximately 80% of the world's largest aftershocks occurred. There was a shift of the Indian plate under the Burmese, where the length of the fault was about 1200 kilometers. The catastrophe was incredibly large, since the Indian plate at the bottom of the ocean was common with the territory of Australia, and the Burmese is considered part of the Eurasian one. The plate fault was divided into two phases with a gap of several minutes. The interaction speed was two kilometers per second, a fault was created in the direction of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
There has not been such a devastating tsunami in Phuket for eighty years. Scientists say it will take centuries before the joined plates move again. According to seismologists, the tsunami in Phuket (2004) gained strength, which was equal to the energy of five megatons per
Consequences of the tragedy
The consequences of the disaster were simply terrible. Phuket after the tsunami (2004) is an awesome picture. The cars were in the lobby of the hotel, the boat was on the roof of the house, and the tree was in the pool. That's what the water did. The buildings that stood on the coast were completely destroyed. Thailand paradise - Phuket - tsunami (2004), the photo of which can be seen in the article, turned into hell. From under the rubble of furniture, houses and cars, the bodies of dead people and animals could be seen. The survivors were in such a state of shock that they could not leave the scene of the tragedy. The tsunami in Thailand in 2004 (Phuket) was not a single one: the wave returned twice and took the lives of 8.5 thousand people with it. One of the elite islands of Phi Phi is completely submerged. A large number of the victims are children.
Elimination of the consequences of the disaster
Immediately after the water left, rescuers began to take measures to eliminate the consequences. The military and police were quickly mobilized, and camps for the victims were set up. Since the island has a very hot climate, the risk of infectious contamination of water and air grew every hour. Therefore, it was necessary to find all the dead, identify them if possible, and bury them. Mobilized groups worked for days without rest. Most countries of the world did not remain indifferent and sent human and material resources to help the Thai people.
The approximate number of deaths in Phuket during the 2004 tsunami was 8,500 people, where 5,400 were foreign citizens from more than forty countries. It was the deadliest tsunami ever known.
Conclusions of scientists and experts
After the disaster, it was necessary to analyze the sources of the tragedy and take security measures. The Thai authorities have joined the international program for tracking phenomena in the ocean depths. Residents were created in case of danger, training was carried out on the rules of behavior during the siren signal. The target group of such measures were not only local residents, but also tourists.
Enormous efforts were expended to renew the infrastructure of the social sphere and tourism. Buildings were built on the island of durable reinforced concrete, where the walls were erected parallel or at an oblique angle to the expected tsunami movement.
Years after the tragedy
Today, thirteen years have already passed since the tragedy that claimed approximately three hundred thousand lives, left pain and suffering in the souls of people around the world. During this time, Thailand was able to fully restore the affected areas. A year after the tragedy, residents who lost their roof over their heads were provided with new housing. The buildings were built with materials that, in case of danger, could withstand natural disasters.
Today, tourists have almost forgotten the tragedy that took place and with even greater enthusiasm go to rest on the shores of the kingdom. After the tsunami in Phuket (2004), Karon Beach, Patong and all other popular places have become even more beautiful. The best buildings and structures were built. And only warning signs about danger bring people back to that time of natural disaster.
Russians who survived the tsunami
Phuket in 2004, Patong and other tourist beaches are places of rest for many Russian tourists. After the tragedy, an emergency staff worked around the clock in the Russian embassy in Bangkok. The headquarters received about 2,000 phone calls in one day. The first list included about 1,500 Russians who may have been on the island at the time of the disaster.
Until January 6, every person on the list was searched. From the very first day of the tragedy, all the victims were helped by volunteers - Russians living in Thailand, as well as employees of travel agencies. Gradually, survivors were found, in parallel, a list was compiled for evacuation to the flight of the Russian Emergencies Ministry. In this way, it turned out to send home about eighty Russians and citizens of neighboring countries.
A list of missing people was also compiled. On January 8, the compilation of the list was completed, the search continued. The dead were identified for about a year. Later, people began to be considered no longer missing, but dead.
Is it possible to come to Thailand after a global catastrophe?
After the authorities of Thailand and American scientists installed the world's largest deep-sea system for the early detection of tsunamis. A warning about an approaching disaster occurs a few hours before the start of the disaster. Also, after the tragedy, a system was worked out to evacuate people away from giant waves. Even on such a small island as Phi Phi, it is possible to evacuate to the mountains.
The system, which sounds the alarm in advance, was tested on April 11, 2012, when the tsunami happened again (everyone was evacuated, this tragedy did not bring such terrible consequences as in 2004). In addition, scientists predict that dozens of years should pass before the next natural disaster.
For those who are still afraid to relax near the sea, experienced travelers are advised to go to the north of the country, where the worst thing that can happen is overflowing the banks of the Chao Phray or Mekong rivers. It's pretty annoying, but not fatal.
What should you do if there is a tsunami?
The first sign of the approach of giant waves is an earthquake. To date, the security system of Thailand, detecting changes in the depths of the ocean, will signal the danger. In no case can not ignore the sharp ebbs of water. In such a situation, you need to act very quickly.
If there are tremors or there is a warning of an approaching tsunami, you must:
- collect all valuables, warn as many people as possible about the danger, hastily leave the territory;
- hide from giant waves in the mountains or areas located far from the coast;
- pay attention to the signs showing the shortest path to the hill;
- the first wave can be small, so you need to stay in a safe place for about two hours, until it is completely calm.
After the devastating 2004 tsunami, the government overhauled the security system, and today the risk of hazards has been reduced.
Before setting off on a trip, it is very important to find out in advance all about the safety of the place where you plan to relax or live for a while.
Despite the fact that Thailand is one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia in terms of crime, it must be remembered that this country is located between two huge oceans. One of the biggest and unmanageable dangers that many tourist areas in Thailand are exposed to is the tsunami.
For informational purposes (by no means to scare) I would like to tell you about the terrible event that happened in Thailand and in many countries of the Indian Ocean basin on December 26, 2004. The tsunami, which was born as a result of an earthquake at the bottom of the Indian Ocean near Indonesia, and which covered Thailand and 14 other countries, claimed the lives of 225,000 to 300,000 people, citizens of 60 countries. This natural disaster is the 6th largest in human history. The most terrible consequences were in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and in Thailand the largest number of foreigners died, especially in Phuket.
Let's hope that this story will never repeat itself, but don't forget - forewarned is forearmed. Many victims could have been avoided if the people who were at the epicenter of the events knew at least something about the tsunami.
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Where do tsunamis come from
Tsunamis are long waves, most often formed due to underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and less often due to any underwater explosions (nuclear tests, meteorites, etc.). Tsunamis do not pose a threat to seafaring facilities in areas of the ocean with great depth. Despite the fact that the waves move at speeds up to 1000 km / h, their height in the open ocean usually does not exceed 50 centimeters or 1 meter. Reaching shallow water, the tsunami loses speed and increases its height to 20-40 meters. This is the reason why tsunamis cannot always be seen in advance. Even satellite tracking systems cannot always identify danger in advance. In some cases, a tsunami can occur even without a clearly defined wave, as a series of fast tides. The danger primarily comes not from the wave itself, but from an incredibly large, wide and powerful stream of water that crashes onto the shore with force.
Why 30-meter storm waves are safer than a 5-meter tsunami
Sometimes on the coasts of the oceans, storm waves can reach impressive sizes, but this never leads to the same massive flooding and damage as a tsunami. This is due to several factors:
- Unlike a storm, when the upper layers of the ocean break on the shore, the tsunami "attacks" the land with the entire thickness of the water, so the kinetic energy of the tsunami is thousands of times greater than the energy splashed ashore during a powerful storm.
“Tsunami waves are thousands of kilometers wide and hit the entire coast, while storm waves are rarely longer than 50-100 meters. On the map at the beginning of the article, you can see how a tsunami propagates radially (in circles) with an epicenter on the seabed near the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
- Storms are almost never sudden, and only the most advanced ocean tracking systems can predict a tsunami. But not all potentially dangerous coasts are equipped with such expensive systems.
“Due to their strength, tsunamis penetrate much deeper into the mainland, destroying infrastructure unprepared for such a scourge and also provoking man-made disasters that only exacerbate the scale of the disaster.
How to survive a tsunami
In 85% of cases, a tsunami is preceded by a powerful underwater earthquake with a magnitude of more than 7.0 on the Richter scale. However, the source may be too far from the tsunami zone, and in this case, no earthquake will be felt on the coast. In the event of tremors in potentially dangerous tsunami zones, the following measures must be taken urgently:
- Without waiting for warnings (they may not be), collect documents, valuables and relatives and leave the danger zone, warning the maximum possible number of people about the danger.
- Climb up a hill as quickly as possible or go away from the ocean.
- In many potentially dangerous areas there are special signs showing the shortest evacuation route.
- Remember that a strong and sharp ebb is an obvious sign of an impending tsunami. Before the decisive blow, the tsunami takes over all the coastal water. Before a big tsunami, most of the victims, who know practically nothing about this natural phenomenon, remain on the shore, collect fish that did not have time to leave with a sharp ebb, or simply admire an unprecedented spectacle. To do so is extremely reckless!
- With a tsunami, a strike in several waves is possible, and the first wave will not necessarily be the most powerful. If one wave has already made landfall, you must continue to stay in a safe place for the next few hours.
The film about the tsunami "Impossible" ("Lo imposible")
Then I saw a film based on the real events of that very day (December 26, 2004) and decided that it was necessary to write about this tsunami. Why? Because the film turned out to be a good drama about the fate of a particular family, but the authors did not reveal the main thing. And the main thing, I think, in this story is not whether one particular family was able to escape, but why the 2004 tsunami provoked such a number of victims. And here's why it happened:
- The inaction of the Thai authorities, who knew that at 8 in the morning there was an earthquake in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra, which slightly "troubled" the Thai resort of Phuket. The tsunami also hit the same Phuket, as well as neighboring provinces around 10 am. That is, there were 2 hours to evacuate people, but no one did anything. This is a complete failure!
- Lack of awareness of the local population and, moreover, tourists, how to behave during a tsunami. No one really knew anything - where to run, what to do ... There were no warning systems, in principle, as such! And this despite the fact that the western coast of Thailand, and especially the tourist area of Phuket (one of the most popular resorts in Thailand) are located in a very dangerous zone of the ocean, where a large number of earthquakes occur. In general - again the failure of the authorities.
In their defense, we can say that tsunamis in the Indian Ocean are extremely rare - the previous tsunami took place after the eruption of Krakatau volcano already in 1883! That is, it was the unexpectedness of the tsunami in a number of countries in the Indian Ocean basin that caused such large-scale consequences - the destruction and death of a huge number of people.
Perhaps this is the emphasis that is missing in the film. In my opinion, it was necessary to show that much could have been prevented. Encourage people to be careful in the future. This does not mean staying at home and not traveling - it means being alerted and knowing what to do in an emergency. And although this will not save every single one in the event of such a development of events, it will help many. People should know what to do in a critical situation during a tsunami.
The very same story of the film is that a family with three sons is at the epicenter of the tsunami. Each of them is trying to escape, help each other and find other relatives. Unlike all the far-fetched disaster movies out there (hello, 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow), Impossible doesn't have super-special effects or an incredibly big budget. The emphasis is on the storyline, the acting and their inimitable emotions. In general, a really worthy drama, in my opinion, and I have already written about the shortcomings above.
Tsunami in Phuket - a shot from the movie "Lo Impossible" 
Tsunami in Phuket 2004 (frames from the film "The Impossible") In this article, I deliberately do not use photographs from various sources illustrating authentic footage of real destruction. I don't want the article to be negative. On the contrary, the purpose of the record is to tell people about what happened and why it happened; honor the memory of innocent victims; try to figure out how to avoid such losses in the future if the tsunami happens again...
After the 2004 disaster, the Thai authorities announced the creation of a special tsunami tracking system. To do this, special buoys were placed in the ocean, which respond to the rapid movement of water masses. Exactly the same systems are successfully operating off the coast of Japan and the Hawaiian Islands. Also, the coastlines of the Andaman Sea in Thailand were equipped with warning signs of a possible danger with a recommendation in Thai and English: “Possible tsunami zone. In the event of an earthquake, go to higher ground or evacuate inland.”
A warning sign about a possible tsunami near Ao Nang (found the "cleanest"))) By the way, if you are going to Thailand, and you are very much afraid of this potential danger of a tsunami, then you can choose safe resorts located in the Gulf of Thailand (South China Sea of the Pacific Ocean basin). The eastern shores of Thailand, namely such resorts as Koh Chang, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao are reliably protected from tsunamis by neighboring islands, peninsulas and continents. The threat of a tsunami in Thailand is only in the western resorts located on the coast of the Andaman Sea. The most "dangerous" in terms of the likelihood of a tsunami are the provinces of Phangnga, Phuket and Krabi.
By the way, do not forget about the best options for finding housing in Thailand:
- AirBNB - click the link to get a discount on your first booking!
- Booking.com is the best hotel aggregator in the world.
Five years ago on December 26, 2004, a 9.3-magnitude underwater earthquake shook the Indian Ocean, sending huge waves that swept across the coasts of 13 countries, leaving 230,000 dead in their wake. This natural disaster ranked fifth in terms of the number of human lives claimed. About 45,000 of the dead were never found. Five years have passed - restoration work is still ongoing - 140,000 houses, 1,700 schools, 3,800 temples and 3,700 km of roads have been built. Collected in this issue are photographs of survivors, restoration work, and several before and after photographs.
(Total 32 photos)
1. A resident of Aceh province cries during a prayer in memory of the victims of the tsunami on the fifth anniversary of the earthquake and 2004 tsunami December 26, 2009 in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Aceh suffered the most, as the provincial capital was closest to the epicenter. The tsunami reached it first and caused about 130,000 deaths. 230,000 people died in 11 countries, making this one of the worst disasters in history. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
2. Foreign tourists who chose a beach holiday, during the first wave of the six waves of the tsunami on the beach of Hat Rai Lay near Krabi in southern Thailand December 26, 2004. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images)
4. a) Five years later, a resident of the city collects grass for his goats in the same place on December 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Beawiharta)
11. Prayers and release offerings into the ocean during a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami at Ulhi Lheu beach in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia, December 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Heri Juanda)
12. In this photo, taken December 6, 2009, children perform a traditional dance at an orphanage in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital of Aceh. Of the 230,000 tsunami deaths, more than half perished in Aceh on the island of Sumatra, leaving at least 5,200 orphans with whom child psychologists continued to work for a long time. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
15. Thai authorities make the final check of the tsunami warning buoy in Cape Panwa in Phuket, southern Thailand, December 1, 2009. Five years after the tsunami that devastated the Asian coast, experts fear that a new generation of coastal residents will be ill-prepared for other huge waves as memories of the tragedy fade. (PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images)
17. Dutch tourist Hans Kuiper photographs images of foreign tourists who wanted to celebrate the new year in a resort hotel and died as a result of the 2004 tsunami. Photo taken at Bang Muang Cemetery in Phang Nga province north of Phuket, Thailand on December 26, 2009. (REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom)
20. Tsunami survivor Abhilash Jayaraj, also known as "Child 81", sits on a chair at home while waiting to go to school in Kurukkalmadam in Batticaloa district on November 23, 2009. The 2004 tsunami brought this "baby 81" international fame, but the parents of the boy, who was only two months old at the time of the tragedy, say the fame brought them only misfortune and unwanted attention. The surviving child was found in the wreckage on the coast of Sri Lanka. Shortly thereafter, nine pairs of parents came for him, each of whom claimed that this was their child. (REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)
23. Red Cross volunteers sit with open umbrellas, which depict the faces of smiling orphans left without parents as a result of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on the fifth anniversary of the disaster at the tsunami museum in Banda Aceh December 26, 2009. (REUTERS/Beawiharta)
