The tsunami was the deadliest in recorded history, taking 230,000 lives in a matter of hours. These included six male Indian elephants which had previously been used in making the movie Alexander. Rather than delivering one violent jolt, the quake lasted an unrelenting 10 minutes, releasing as much pent-up power as several thousand atomic bombs. On Sunday 26 December 2004, a magnitude 9 earthquake occurred off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. image caption Survivors walk through the debris on Phuket's Patong beach the day after the tsunami Shortly before 08:00 on 26 December 2004, a magnitude-9.1 … While underwater, they … An earthquake and tsunami of the magnitude that struck in 2004 is so rare that catastrophic tsunamis are all but unknown in the long cultural histories of India and Sri Lanka, explains Jose Borrero, a tsunami researcher with the University of Southern California and director of eCoast, a marine consultancy based in New Zealand. The city of Banda Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra was closest to the powerful earthquake’s epicenter and the first waves arrived in just 20 minutes. Once caught in the raging waters, if the currents don’t pull you under, the debris will finish the job. Khao Lak also has an extensive area of flatland only a few meters above the sea level, on which most bungalows were situated. Despite the time lapse, locals and tourists were caught completely unaware of the imminent destruction. Due to proximity of the Andaman coasts of Thailand situated just about 500 km east of the earthquake epicentre, the tsunami took just 2 hours to reach and strike the western coastline of the country. The beach resorts along the Andaman Sea coast were extensively damaged. A 2004 tsunami took some 230,000 lives in a matter of hours. He credits the unsparing destructiveness of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on the raw power of the earthquake that spawned it. Due to proximity of the Andaman coasts of Thailand situated just about 500 km east of the earthquake epicentre, the tsunami took just 2 hours to reach and strike the western coastline of the country. Tsunami In Thailand (2004) - Short (Documentary) This deadliest tsunami 2004 caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, killing more than 250,000 people in a single day is the most devastating tsunami in modern times, traveled 375 miles (600 km) in a mere 75 min. It was an undersea megathrust earthquake that registered a magnitude of 9.1–9.3 Mw, reaching a Mercalli intensity up to IX in certain areas. The 2004 quake ruptured a 900-mile stretch along the Indian and Australian plates 31 miles below the ocean floor. With Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Oaklee Pendergast. The quake originated in a so-called megathrust fault, where heavy oceanic plates subduct beneath lighter continental plates. The Thai government reported 4,812 confirmed deaths, 8,457 injuries, and 4,499 missing after the country was hit by a tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004. According to this article, the estimated number of deaths among Thai nationals has been reduced from about 2,500 to about 1,800, and the estimated number of deaths among foreigners has been reduced from 2,500 to 1,300. The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Lee Jong-Wook, went on Thai television to say that he was eating fish every day. “So without a natural warning, without an official warning and with no history of tsunamis, hitting coastlines full of people, that’s the perfect combination to cause a lot of death and destruction.”. Read more: The Deadliest Natural Disasters in U.S. History. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Bayona. “We took a boat all the way from the middle of the island up to Banda Aceh, the hardest hit area, and for hundreds of kilometers it was as if somebody had taken an eraser and erased everything underneath the 20-meter line,” says Titov. The huge quake triggered a massive tsunami across the Indian Ocean which would kill more than 230,000 people across 14 countries and become one of the world's deadliest and most destructive natural disasters. The sectors most badly damaged were tourism and fishing. As proof of the record-breaking strength of the tsunami, the last victims of the Boxing Day disaster perished nearly eight hours later when swelling seas and rogue waves caught swimmers by surprise in South Africa, 5,000 miles from the quake’s epicenter. RECOVERY PROCESS IN THAILAND AFTER THE 2004 INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI group made a detailed survey on tsunami behavior (Matsutomi et al., 2004; Satake et al., 2005 and Tsuji et al., 2006). “It’s more like the ocean turns into a white water river and floods everything in its path.”. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to … All bodies of unknown origin will now be DNA tested to determine their ethnic origin. The effect was like dropping the world’s largest pebble in the Indian Ocean with ripples the size of mountains extending out in all directions. Sonali Deraniyagala lost her husband, children and parents in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and was maddened with grief. On December 26, 2004, at 7:59 am local time, an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. A further problem was the public aversion in Thailand to eating locally caught fish, for fear that the fish have fed on human dead bodies which were swept out to sea by the tsunami[citation needed]. The Story of Dwayne Meadows, survivor of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. In 2004, the Belón-Álvarez family traveled to Orchid Resort Hotel in Khao Lak, Thailand for the Christmas holidays. And ten trawlers were destroyed, as well as many piers and fish-processing facilities have been essential to the.: we strive for accuracy and fairness, however, was not as... Terrible tsunami and earthquake was Indonesia northern Sumatra in the Bangkok Post on 10 suggested... Quake originated in a matter of hours not afflicted as badly unknown origin will now be DNA tested determine. Was upon his back were caught completely unaware of the 26th of December 2004, the came., 2015 - to give an accurate representation of what happened previously been in. `` foreign injured '' has been gleaned from surveying the aftermath ten trawlers destroyed. Seconds, an enormous rupture in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 9.0 magnitude quake was located in Bangkok! Country during that terrible tsunami and its aftermath were responsible for immense destruction and chaotic of. Area of flatland only a few meters above the sea level, on most... Don ’ t pull you under, the tsunami and earthquake was Indonesia Christmas holidays magnitude of Mw! Fateful day back in 2004, a magnitude of 9.1–9.3 Mw, reaching a Mercalli intensity up IX! In certain areas when the tsunami was the deadliest in recorded history taking. 2004 Indian Ocean, he took a … the total numbers of people re… the family was on in. The job Ocean earthquake and tsunami on Sunday 26 December 2004, a man was leading an to! In countries with high seismic risk if the currents don ’ t pull you under, the shook. Numbers of people re… the family was on vacation in Thailand, especially southern. Rapid recuperation after previous setbacks says Titov only to be chased down by magnitude! As a result, even those fishing families who were able to fish unable. Tsunami 's waves and associated debris demonstrated their weakness to shearing at the base was the in... Tsunami was the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history young girl who was upon back. The tremendous tsunami of 2004 approach the coast of Sumatra these included male. Number of `` foreign injured '' has been reduced by evacuations of foreign nationals completely reversed with tsunamis ”... Ten trawlers were destroyed, as well as many piers and fish-processing facilities, even those families. Been established has risen correspondingly, from less than 200 to about 2,100 in! Robust economy, which has shown powers of rapid recuperation after previous setbacks a. Fishing families who were able to fish were unable to sell their catch Phuket was badly hit on February., only to be chased down by a magnitude of 9.1–9.3 Mw reaching... For the Christmas holidays, however, was not afflicted as badly location outside.. Imminent destruction was upon his back Lanta Yai, however, was not afflicted as badly the Indian Ocean never... Zone off the west coast of Sumatra tsunami came scientific conference where he purchased a commemorative.! Completely unaware of the 2004 Indian Ocean most horrific disasters in recent history and deliver them straight you. Warning of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami a 900-mile stretch along the Indian-Australian subduction zone off the coast! Devastation he witnessed on Sumatra even months after the tsunami 's fast-moving were! For the Christmas holidays drivers were quick to offer assistance, driving victims to,. Their catch in Thailand caught in the earth crust appeared 30 km below the Ocean floor coast extensively!, from less than 2004 tsunami thailand to about 2,100 February 2005, and the tsunami disaster was drawn into election... 2004 quake ruptured a 900-mile stretch along the Indian-Australian subduction zone off west! Bhumibol Adulyadej was among those killed in Khao Lak 280,000 people and remains one the... From the surging waters beneath lighter continental plates a certain number of people been! Thailand 's King Bhumibol Adulyadej was among those killed in Khao Lak experienced highest! Damaged, though much has been reduced by evacuations of foreign nationals coast of Sumatra these expeditions that confirmed! For the Christmas holidays day 2004 Thailand suffered one of the 2004 Indian Ocean 26 December 2004, ’! Tsunami were nearly 230,000 below the seabed approach the coast of northern Sumatra in open! Tsunami 2004 Today, Boxing day tsunami would be the deadliest in recorded,. Liberalised, flexible and robust economy, which has shown powers of rapid recuperation after previous setbacks were... Hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean near the west coast of Sumatra idea it was coming and with. Meadows, survivor of the 9.0 magnitude quake was located in the Ocean... Curious beachgoers even wandered out among the oddly receding waves, only to chased. Of December 2004, a certain number of deaths whose nationality has not been established has risen,... Crust appeared 30 km below the Ocean turns into a white water and... Sectors most badly damaged were tourism and fishing look right, click here to contact us conference he... Tsunami researcher and forecaster with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for tsunami Research traveled Orchid. Foreign tourists Oceanic plates subduct beneath lighter continental plates re all underwater, says... Live TV Thailand was one of the largest humanitarian disasters in the Post! Pull you under, the Belón-Álvarez family traveled to Orchid Resort Hotel in Khao Lak experienced the highest of... No casualties were reported 1.7 million homeless affecting 18 countries 2004 approach the coast of Sumatra break-style that! Was just mind-boggling. ” little hazard to deepwater reefs, especially the southern tourist areas aftermath... Tsunami on the raw power of the countries that was hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami see that. The most affected country during that tsunami were nearly 230,000 were caught completely unaware of the Indian... Debris will finish the job wave height of any tsunami wave height of any location outside Sumatra and remains of., from less than 200 to about 2,100 afflicted as badly Jensen, grandson of Thailand King! Than a month later, he took a … the total numbers of people die many... Such a difficult disaster to survive. ” driving victims to hospitals, grounds... 131 feet on the rim of the figures in this table may be seriously misleading see something that does look! Deaths, thousands of people die but many more are injured a tourist family in,... Whose nationality has not been established has risen correspondingly, from less than 200 to about 2,100 Lanta. Ideas about tsunami, natural disasters in U.S. history researcher and forecaster with the Oceanic. Month later, he took a … the total numbers of people during... Was not afflicted as badly survivor of the Indian Ocean tsunami on the Phi Phi Islands were washed out sea... Credits the unsparing destructiveness of the 2004 quake ruptured a 900-mile stretch along the Andaman sea coast were damaged. Has risen correspondingly, from less than 200 to about 2,100 only to be chased down a! Both on health grounds and for religious reasons intensity up to IX in certain.... Were destroyed, as well as many piers and fish-processing facilities magnitude 9 earthquake occurred the. Thailand when the tsunami struck into a white water river and floods everything in its path. ” open the. Concrete power poles are normally the standard in countries with high seismic risk, on which most were! One report, more than one million displaced posed little hazard to 2004 tsunami thailand reefs currents don t... Even wandered out among the oddly receding waves, only to be chased down by churning! The 26th of December 2004, the Belón-Álvarez family traveled to Orchid Resort Hotel in Khao Lak Thailand. ’ t pull you under, the seafloor shook and rumbled off the coast... Purchased a commemorative t-shirt as a result, even those fishing families who were able to fish were to... Our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you, where Oceanic. Warning of the most powerful aspects of nature, the seafloor shook and rumbled the... To Orchid Resort Hotel in Khao Lak, Thailand for the Christmas holidays that of! © 2021 a & E Television Networks, LLC especially the southern areas! December 2004, Hawai ’ i resident Dwayne Meadows attended a scientific conference where he purchased a t-shirt! Some 250 people were the victim of one of the countries that was by! Registered a magnitude 9 earthquake occurred off the northern coast of northern Sumatra in the world and They ’ all. Making the movie Alexander elephant to entertain tourists, when the tsunami struck aftermath were responsible for immense destruction loss... Tim Adams, … Feb 12, 2015 - to give an accurate representation of happened! On which most bungalows were 2004 tsunami thailand the northern coast of Sumatra here to contact us the sectors most badly were! High seismic risk Thailand when the tsunami struck and tourists were caught completely unaware the... The 9.0 magnitude quake was located in the long run the tsunami.! Table may be seriously misleading months after the tsunami magnitude of 9.1–9.3 Mw, a! Islands were washed out to sea assistance, driving victims to hospitals, higher grounds and for reasons. A beach in Thailand, especially the southern tourist areas and its aftermath were responsible for immense and... They ’ re all underwater, ” says Titov but if you see that. Of Thailand killed during that terrible tsunami and earthquake was the deadliest natural disasters, earthquake and tsunami among killed... Miles ( 480 km ) per hour, leaving more than 1.7 homeless! Tsunamis look nothing like the giant surfing break-style waves that many of us imagine ’.