It arrived unstoppable, unannounced and unapologetic, midmorning on Boxing Day 2004. About one hour earlier, one of the largest ever recorded ocean-floor earthquakes had started to dislodge billions of tons of sea-water at the surface. Afterwards it has been called a “once in a lifetime tsunami”. At least those who didn’t make it alive would probably agree with that description.
Here I’m standing on a hill over looking Nai Harn Bay, on the coast most brutally annihilated by this tsunami – looking down at my yacht, Scorpio, peacefully anchored among the rest of the fleet of cruising boats from all over the world.
Five years ago, terror and pandemonium erupted as everyone scrambled as best they could to save themselves. Many drowned still lying in their beds or trapped inside their homes or hotel rooms. Those caught outside in the whirlpools of rising water fought to survive in a washing machine tangle of motorbikes, cars, corrugated iron, broken glass and concrete blocks.
Within an hour, thousands of tourists and Thai locals had perished, along with billions of dollars worth of property.
Earlier today I took a walk ashore and saw several signs of the disaster in the form of warning signs, evacuation posters and, very touching, memorial plaques resembling grave stones.
Looking down at the boats below it all seems unreal, like something out of 1000 and one nights!
But what if it happens again? Am I crazy for being here?
Some of the text above is borrowed from a book entitled “Tsunami Stories Thailand”.
According to them, at their web site www.tsunamistoriesthailand.com, you can make a donation for the benefit of orphans in the worst hit areas.
