Indian Ocean Tsunami: Ten Years Later, I Accidentally Stumbled Onto Videos…

hile I was searching for an article to write and post here at The Gate, I accidentally stumbled upon a video — which led to a series of seven videos — much of which are actual footage of the Boxing Day tsunami which occurred in the Indian Ocean on Sunday, December 26, 2004.

I did not realize that it had already been ten years since that one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history occurred, killing at least an estimated 230,000 people in 14 different countries with tidal waves as high as 100 feet as a result of an undersea earthquake whose magnitude was estimated to be as high as 9.3. Additionally, an additional 125,000 people were injured; and approximately 1.74 million people were displaced. The numbers are staggering.

Although I remembered when the deadliest tsunami on record occurred, I have never seen the amount of footage like I saw in the series of videos from what appeared to be a television program called Tsunami: Caught On Camera.

Warning: the video series contains graphic images — including dead bodies and bloody injuries — as well as footage of the tsunami wreaking havoc as it happened. The videos also contain the gut-wrenching stories as told by the survivors interviewed for the program:

Tsunami: Caught On Camera Part 1
Tsunami: Caught On Camera Part 2
Tsunami: Caught On Camera Part 3
Tsunami: Caught On Camera Part 4
Tsunami: Caught On Camera Part 5
Tsunami: Caught On Camera Part 6
Tsunami: Caught On Camera Part 7

Each video is approximately seven to eleven minutes in duration. Give yourself slightly greater than an hour in total to watch them.

Normally, I would not post something which occurred greater than ten years ago; but I got caught up in the videos, which affected me. I was amazed at how one moment a family could be enjoying a vacation in paradise — only to forever lose at least one family member to a natural disaster only moments later…

…and it could happen at any time wherever earthquakes are known to most likely occur.

I also decided to compile a list of discussions posted on FlyerTalk pertaining to this incredible event to show how FlyerTalk members from all over the world reacted — including how they helped and gave of themselves — as well as some who were directly and indirectly affected by it:

 

I had visited Phuket four years and several months later; and you would have never known that anything happened.

My thoughts still go out to the families and friends of the victims ten years later…

 

  1. I still remember that tsunami from 10 years ago. I was here in New York City when it occurred but I recall watching some tame footages on TV News. Then in February 2005, I went to Singapore and Cambodia for the first time. I recall noticing the TV news coverage there was definitely more explicit than the ones showed here in the USA. Not sure why.

  2. Wow, very intense — and emotionally tough to watch at times. I couldn’t help but watch the whole thing after starting with part 1. I feel like I better understand now how intense and devastating that disaster truly was. Much more so than when I first saw the news reports a decade ago. Very very sad. Thanks for sharing.

  3. I, too, couldn’t help but watch all of the videos. Incredibly powerful stories and video about an unbelievably powerful and tragic disaster. Thank you for sharing…and reminding us all to live each day to the fullest and with appreciation for what we have.

    1. Well, at least I know I am not the only person who felt that way after watching those videos, Bill, Ryan and Joey.

      I kept going to the next video in the series instead of taking a break, not wanting to stop watching until the very end…

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