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Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Anybody have any first-hand accounts with regard to the tsunami that hit the Thai west coast this morning? It is the #1 story in all the press at the moment. Apparently it hit Sri Lanka and India harder than other places. The death toll currently stands at 3,000.

Phuket & southern Thailand (Krabi, Phi Phi et al) have also suffered serious damage at beachfront properties. Thailand has reported at least 84 deaths so far.

Tourists reported surging waves of between 5 and 10 metres.

Latest reports say the earthquake that triggered the tidal wave (off the coast of Sumatra) was a magnitude 8.9 --- wow. They're calling it "the world's most powerful earthquake in 40 years."

A friend of mine in Chiang Mai reported feeling it this morning, and it was also felt by many people here in Bangkok, although my hangover and I managed to sleep through it.

earth calling tedkarma: are you OK ??? Embarassed

~ http://www.phuketgazette.com/ (Phuket Gazette)

Canadian_Guy · Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 27

http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1104066217280_57?hub=topstories

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

OMG

"In Thailand, the waves wiped out bungalows and washed through seaside hotels, killing tourists and slamming scuba divers against coral reefs. The government ordered evacuation from stricken coastal areas, including 600 from the tiny island of Koh Phi Phi and the resorts on the islands of Phuket and Krabi . More than 158 people died in the holiday island of Phuket and other resorts, according to the Public Health Ministry's Narenthorn Center, with thousands injured. This was the peak of the tourist season in the area and eyewitnesses described sunbathers being washed out to sea."

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

CNN - Phuket

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/26/phuket.eyewitness/
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/26/quake.thailand/

Reuters

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=644457

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

"Residents and tourists stand in ankle-deep water after a tsunami hit the entertainment district of Patong in Phuket, Thailand December 26, 2004. An unprecedented tidal wave created chaos in Thailand's southern tourist playground, tossing cars around and sweeping into luxury hotels on Phuket, flattening 'The Beach' movie island and killing 156 people."

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

The latest death toll from the affected region stands at just over 12,000. Embarassed

In Thailand --- the Public Health Ministry has reported that 431 people died and more than 4,100 were injured.

Disaster officials said at least 130 people died in Phuket, including several dozen foreigners. Nearly 700 people were injured and 214 missing. (from CNN News)

I'm still hoping tedkarma wasn't on the beach when the tsunami hit.

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 4:06 am Post subject:

I'm more handicapped by the lousy internet on the island, than by the tsunami.

Not sure what to say to supplement what TV coverage has provided except that I doubt anyone here has a real count of dead/missing - the communication infrastructure is so poor. Could be better or worse - don't know.

To avoid further congesting the roads - everyone is out touring and sightseeing the damage - I've only seen the Bang Tao and Kamala areas.

Kamala was quite badly damaged - probably as the sea there is very shallow. The damage came all the way out to the main road (100s of meters) - can't even go down the beach area road (even on a motorcycle) as there are damaged cars and rubble everywhere. Surin area wasn't hurt much - protected by its angle to the sea.
Parts of Bang Tao took a good hit, but the Laguna Resorts area was only lightly damaged (in spite of someone on CNN saying it was wiped out!) - though most of the beach restaurants are gone or badly damaged - including many of my favorites.

Tried to get into Patong, but the road into town was too congested and damaged to do it.

Will cruise more later today probably - probably north rather than south though. Volunteered at Bangkok Phuket Hospital for a few hours last night and the flow of people in was non-stop even late into the night 12-14 hours after the event. Lots of people cut or beat up by being swept up with the sea.

Two things affect the final result - one that the tsunami hit hear about 10:30 or so - thus not too many people on the beach yet, and a real problem - that so few Thais know how to swim.

There is a striking absence - at least on this part of the island - of official assistance be it police, military, civil service or otherwise.

Can't really report anything else - as it would just be speculation.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

I'm glad you're OK, Ted. Thanks for checking in.

I just got off the phone with a good friend of mine who lives on Cape Panwa (not too far from Patong Beach) and he's OK too.

fyi --- mobile phone service in and out of that area is also severely restricted at the moment. It took me hours & hours of redialing to finally get through to him.

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 5:19 am Post subject:

I have to modify my last post a bit. I understand that now there are tourist assistance stations in Patong. Nothing up here yet. I would assume that the government is focusing its attention in the Patong, Karon, Kata area as that is where the majority of tourists stay.

blue jay · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 7:26 am Post subject:

Here are some news links about it:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2149&ncid=2149&e=7&u=/cpress/20041226/ca_pr_on_wo/indonesia_earthquake

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041226/wl_canada_afp/asiaquakereaxcanada_041226233658

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/12/26/newtsunami041226

Hope everyone is safe!

senor boogie woogie · Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:37 am Post subject:

Hola!

How many were killed or left homeless in Krabi? I am very interested in Ao Nang beach, where I stayed one year ago. Were all those beach front businesses and bars whiped out by the water?

Senor

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Just read the sad news that the 21-year-old grandson of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej --- was among the victims.

"The body of Khun Bhumi Jensen (a.k.a. Khun Poom) 21, was found at the resort of Khao Lak in Phang Nga province about 100m from where he was last seen jet-skiing before the waves hit on Sunday." http://www.bangkoknews.net/

A sad day for Thailand and across South Asia. Embarassed

Emily Print · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 4

Please remember if you have relatives or friends teaching in Thailand that not all areas were affected by tsunami/earthquake.

If you have not heard from your loved one he or she may be quite safe but unable to let you know just yet because of communication difficulties.

I know Samed Island (also I think called Koh Samet) was not damaged- there must be others.

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

Phuket Area - Yahoo/AP/Reuters

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

------------------< rest in peace, Khun Poom >------------------

'Khun Poom Jensen' - the only son of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya

~