At least 23,000 dead so far !
29 December 2004, 11:20 PM
#31
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3 scary videos on
http://bstn.free.fr/start_en.htm
The second one, the one shot from inside the bar, was partly shown on US TV this morning. The reporter said the two people shown being washed away were Brits, one is in a coma and the other missing
http://bstn.free.fr/start_en.htm
The second one, the one shot from inside the bar, was partly shown on US TV this morning. The reporter said the two people shown being washed away were Brits, one is in a coma and the other missing
30 December 2004, 07:29 AM
#32
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My wife and I arrived back from Phuket yesterday - we were on the beach when it happened.
I struggle to explain the speed that it all happened and ferocity of the waves. We were walking on a fairly isolated beach towards the north of the island. We were on our way back to the hotel when we saw the tide go out really quickly. There were a few locals who ran out on to the flat sands picking up fish and they all seemed very pleased and excited at the easy pickings. My wife and I just remarked how odd it seemed but we now know that is the first sign of what was to come.
The tide then came in really really quickly (seconds), not like a blast but a quick steady flow. We expected it to stop but there was this first almighty gush which caught us up to our waists. When this went back we ran up the beach towards a track, simply not want to get caught in the next wave. The beach was pretty steep and we got to the track only to look back and see this wall of water coming in - all we could do was hide behind a tree. I darted to one and held on and then the water started coming. Strangely the water was hitting the tree so hard it was going immediately around the tree but I was not getting too wet. All you could see either side of you was water and it just kept coming and coming (above my head). I looked to the side and as I said all you coulld see was water, I couldn't see the tree that my wife had gone behind or my wife; I had no idea if she had made it to the tree or was still able to hold on.
The flow of water slowly began to ease up and with less pressure coming, the water started to come around the tree and I began to get wet, and by now I could see my wife still holding on to the tree. The water had gone inland some 200-300 yards and was about waist height. It just wallowed around and gradually began to either flow back down the beach or just drain away; there were fish flapping around everywhere.
We didn't know what to do next, either stay where you are in case there was another one or run for it. Eventually we ran for it back to the hotel. At one point there was another wave building and we stopped at another tree but this wave didn't come to anything. We made it to the each of the hotel complex and clambered over some wreckage leading up to what appeared to be a shack - this turned out to be the hotel's royal suite which had been totally gutted. We got back to the hotel's main lobby and there was people everywhere and there was near hysteria. We eventually got to look out on to the hotel's pool and gardens that lead down to the beach and it was carnage, with a black silt covering everything.
I've probably written too much already to maintain your interest but just wanted to share what this hellish experience was like at the time. Everything you see on the telly is exactly as it is over there. Entire hotels gone, people wandering around trying to find loved ones, power and phones down, bedlam with everyone trying to get away. This was the first week of our holiday and we'd saved up all year for a spectacular three weeks away. We were due on a cruise yesterday and then staying at Raffles on New Years, followed by another week on Krabi after that. Being selfish none of that can happen and we've learnt none of this is covered by holiday insurance. But you soon forget about the costs and inconvenience when you realise you still have your wife and you have been able to come home, things that many other people have lost.
Tim
I struggle to explain the speed that it all happened and ferocity of the waves. We were walking on a fairly isolated beach towards the north of the island. We were on our way back to the hotel when we saw the tide go out really quickly. There were a few locals who ran out on to the flat sands picking up fish and they all seemed very pleased and excited at the easy pickings. My wife and I just remarked how odd it seemed but we now know that is the first sign of what was to come.
The tide then came in really really quickly (seconds), not like a blast but a quick steady flow. We expected it to stop but there was this first almighty gush which caught us up to our waists. When this went back we ran up the beach towards a track, simply not want to get caught in the next wave. The beach was pretty steep and we got to the track only to look back and see this wall of water coming in - all we could do was hide behind a tree. I darted to one and held on and then the water started coming. Strangely the water was hitting the tree so hard it was going immediately around the tree but I was not getting too wet. All you could see either side of you was water and it just kept coming and coming (above my head). I looked to the side and as I said all you coulld see was water, I couldn't see the tree that my wife had gone behind or my wife; I had no idea if she had made it to the tree or was still able to hold on.
The flow of water slowly began to ease up and with less pressure coming, the water started to come around the tree and I began to get wet, and by now I could see my wife still holding on to the tree. The water had gone inland some 200-300 yards and was about waist height. It just wallowed around and gradually began to either flow back down the beach or just drain away; there were fish flapping around everywhere.
We didn't know what to do next, either stay where you are in case there was another one or run for it. Eventually we ran for it back to the hotel. At one point there was another wave building and we stopped at another tree but this wave didn't come to anything. We made it to the each of the hotel complex and clambered over some wreckage leading up to what appeared to be a shack - this turned out to be the hotel's royal suite which had been totally gutted. We got back to the hotel's main lobby and there was people everywhere and there was near hysteria. We eventually got to look out on to the hotel's pool and gardens that lead down to the beach and it was carnage, with a black silt covering everything.
I've probably written too much already to maintain your interest but just wanted to share what this hellish experience was like at the time. Everything you see on the telly is exactly as it is over there. Entire hotels gone, people wandering around trying to find loved ones, power and phones down, bedlam with everyone trying to get away. This was the first week of our holiday and we'd saved up all year for a spectacular three weeks away. We were due on a cruise yesterday and then staying at Raffles on New Years, followed by another week on Krabi after that. Being selfish none of that can happen and we've learnt none of this is covered by holiday insurance. But you soon forget about the costs and inconvenience when you realise you still have your wife and you have been able to come home, things that many other people have lost.
Tim
30 December 2004, 08:27 AM
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"I've probably written too much already to maintain your interest"
Tim - I've rarely read such a post on Scoobynet. I doubt very few people will agree with you! At least you and your wife are safe.
Tim - I've rarely read such a post on Scoobynet. I doubt very few people will agree with you! At least you and your wife are safe.
30 December 2004, 09:00 AM
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I've probably written too much already to maintain your interest
I remember after the WTC attack the thing that affected me most was reading the accounts from people who were there, made it more personal than seeing it on the news.
Right, I'm off to http://www.dec.org.uk/ now to donate some of the money from the sale of my P1, hope it'll help someone.
30 December 2004, 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Suresh
To be honest, I'd be surprised if the final number of fatalities comes in below 100,000.
30 December 2004, 11:01 AM
#39
I agree with Iwan, a personal account always means more than a news report.
I am glad Tim is ok.
I was saddened by the disaster as I have been to Thailand, Penang and Sumatra. Out of the 3, I feel most sorry for the people on Sumatra.
They are a poor nation (I realise not as bad as some of the other places hit). I wonder how many years it will take them to recover from lost property etc, let alone the lost lives. They don't have much income from tourism (especially since the Bali bomb) and aid money is only for immediate help.
I wonder if the people in Thailand will continue to build resorts and huts so close to the beach in future?
I really hope the death toll does not end up as high as predicted.
p.s. Watching George Bush talking about the disaster just made me angry.
I am glad Tim is ok.
I was saddened by the disaster as I have been to Thailand, Penang and Sumatra. Out of the 3, I feel most sorry for the people on Sumatra.
They are a poor nation (I realise not as bad as some of the other places hit). I wonder how many years it will take them to recover from lost property etc, let alone the lost lives. They don't have much income from tourism (especially since the Bali bomb) and aid money is only for immediate help.
I wonder if the people in Thailand will continue to build resorts and huts so close to the beach in future?
I really hope the death toll does not end up as high as predicted.
p.s. Watching George Bush talking about the disaster just made me angry.
30 December 2004, 11:09 AM
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Is it me, or is George Dubya just totally hapless...what an idiot!!
It's a real shame, but seems Nature has her way....not enough to wipe out loads with the wave, but loads more will now suffer even worse fates with disease.....
Tim, great account, i'd have been ****ting myself i reckon...glad you and the missus are well....if i were you, i'd be off to buy a few Lottery tickets!!!
It's a real shame, but seems Nature has her way....not enough to wipe out loads with the wave, but loads more will now suffer even worse fates with disease.....
Tim, great account, i'd have been ****ting myself i reckon...glad you and the missus are well....if i were you, i'd be off to buy a few Lottery tickets!!!
31 December 2004, 01:00 PM
#41
Truely is shocking and on such a scale which is incomprenable. 125,000 people dead and likey that will double or treble.
Made a £100 donation through radio 1 appeal: 0870 60 60 900.
Really want to be able to do more. Would like to fly over and help in any way possible for as long as it takes. Does anybody know of any organisations which can arrange this? Have tried searching the net with no luck.
Bob
Made a £100 donation through radio 1 appeal: 0870 60 60 900.
Really want to be able to do more. Would like to fly over and help in any way possible for as long as it takes. Does anybody know of any organisations which can arrange this? Have tried searching the net with no luck.
Bob
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