Tsunamis are giant and long ocean waves that occur as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions or earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 7 points. During an underwater earthquake, sections of the ocean floor are displaced, which forms a series of destructive waves. Their speed can reach 1000 km / h, and the height - up to 50 m and above. About 80% of the tsunami occurs in the Pacific Ocean.
Tsunami in Thailand (2004), Phuket
December 26, 2004 - this day went down in history as a day of a tragedy of gigantic proportions, which took a huge number of lives. At this time, a tsunami occurred in Phuket (2004). Patong, Karon, other beaches have suffered the most. At 07:58 local time, a powerful earthquake of magnitude up to 9.3 points occurred at the bottom of the Indian Ocean near Simelue Island. It caused a large series of gigantic waves that people around the world still remember with fear and regret. Water killers killed about 300 thousand people in several hours and caused terrible destruction on the shores of Asia.
Thailand was one of the states that suffered huge losses from the tsunami onslaught. The catastrophe hit the western part of the coast. In 2004, the tsunami on the beaches of Phuket completely destroyed the infrastructure: hotels, clubs, bars. These were the most famous holiday destinations among tourists around the world - Karon, Patong, Kamala, Kata. According to general estimates, several hundred people died.
The story of the beginning of the great catastrophe
It was an ordinary morning, when many were still in bed, but some were already resting on the beach. Powerful tremors occurred at the bottom of the ocean, which led to the displacement of water. The underground attacks were completely imperceptible, and therefore no one even suspected the beginning of the disaster. At a speed of 1000 km / h, the waves rushed to the shores of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Somalia. Thus began the tsunami in Phuket (2004). Karon Beach was among the places that suffered the most.
Approaching land, the height of the water flow in some places was about 40 meters. The tsunami in Phuket in 2004 had a very powerful destructive force, even exceeding the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
About an hour after the underwater earthquake and on land, strange phenomena began to occur: somewhere 1.5 km away from the coast, the sound of the surf stopped, animals and birds began to run away in fear (to the mountains). People did not immediately understand the whole essence of danger and collected shells from the shallowed bottom of the ocean. Since the killer wave 15 meters high did not have a white ridge, it was not immediately noticed from the shore. When the tsunami in Phuket (2004) arrived at the beach, it was already too late to escape. With incredible speed, the waves destroyed everything in its path. Their destructive power allowed them to penetrate two kilometers inland.
When the movement of the wave stopped, the water very quickly rushed back. The greatest danger was not water itself, but debris, trees, cars, concrete, reinforcement, billboards - all that threatened to take a person's life.
2004 Phuket Tsunami Characteristics
The scene is the western tip of the Pacific earthquake belt, where approximately 80% of the largest earthquake shocks occurred. There was a shift of the Indian plate under the Burmese, where the length of the fault was about 1200 kilometers. The disaster was incredibly large, since the Indian plate at the bottom of the ocean was common with the territory of Australia, and the Burmese is considered part of the Eurasian. The plate fracture was divided into two phases with a gap of several minutes. The interaction speed was two kilometers per second, a fault was created in the direction of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Such a devastating tsunami in Phuket was not eighty years old. Scientists say that centuries must pass before the connected plates begin to move again. According to seismologists, the tsunami in Phuket (2004) gained strength, which was equal to the energy of five megatons in TNT equivalent.
Consequences of the tragedy
The consequences of the disaster were simply terrible. Phuket after the Tsunami (2004) is an awesome picture. Cars were in the lobby, a boat on the roof of the house, and a tree in the pool. That's what the water did. The buildings that stood on the coast were completely destroyed. Thailand Paradise - Phuket - Tsunami (2004), a photo of which can be seen in the article, turned into hell. From under the wreckage of furniture, houses and cars, the bodies of dead people and animals were visible. The survivors were in such a state of shock that they could not leave the scene of the tragedy. The tsunami in Thailand in 2004 (Phuket) was not a one-time event: the wave returned twice and took the lives of 8.5 thousand people. One of the elite islands of Phi Phi has completely gone under water. A large number of victims are children.
Disaster Management
Immediately after the water left, rescuers began to take measures to eliminate the consequences. The military and police were quickly mobilized, and camps for the victims were created. Since the island has a very hot climate, the risk of infectious infection of water and air increased every hour. Therefore, it was necessary to find all the dead, if possible identify and bury. Mobilized groups worked for days without rest. Most countries of the world did not remain indifferent and sent human and material resources to help Thai residents.
The approximate number of deaths in Phuket during the 2004 tsunami amounted to 8 thousand 500 people, where 5 thousand 400 were foreign citizens from more than forty countries of the world. It was the deadliest tsunami of all known.
Conclusions of scientists and specialists
After the disaster, it was necessary to analyze the sources of the tragedy and take security measures. Thai authorities have joined the international program for tracking the phenomena in the deep ocean. Warning systems were created for residents in case of danger, training was given to the rules of behavior during the siren signal. The target group of such measures was not only local residents, but also tourists.
Huge efforts have been expended to renew the infrastructure of the social sphere and tourism. Buildings made of durable reinforced concrete were built on the island, where the walls were erected in parallel or at an oblique angle to the alleged tsunami movement.
Years after the tragedy
Today, thirteen years have passed since the tragedy, which claimed approximately three hundred thousand lives, leaving pain and suffering in the souls of people around the world. During this time, Thailand was able to fully restore the affected areas. A year after the tragedy, residents who lost a roof over their heads were given new housing. The buildings were built from materials that, in case of danger, could withstand natural disasters.
Today, tourists have almost forgotten the tragedy and with even greater enthusiasm go to rest on the shores of the kingdom. After the tsunami in Phuket (2004), Karon Beach, Patong and all other popular places became even more beautiful. The best buildings and structures were built. And only warning signs about danger return people at the time of natural disaster.
Russians survived the tsunami
Phuket in 2004, Patong and other tourist beaches are places of rest for many Russian tourists. After the tragedy, the emergency staff worked at the Russian embassy in Bangkok after the tragedy. The headquarters received about 2,000 phone calls in one day. The first list included about 1,500 Russians who may have been on the island during the disaster.
Until January 6, each person was searched on the list. From the very first day of the tragedy, all the victims were helped by volunteers - Russians living in Thailand, as well as employees of travel agencies. Survivors were gradually found, in parallel, a list was compiled for evacuation to the Russian Emergencies Ministry flight. In this way, it turned out to send home about eighty Russians and citizens of neighboring countries.
A list of missing persons was also compiled. January 8, the compilation of the list is over, the search continued. About a year identification of the dead was carried out. Later, people began to be considered no longer missing, but lost.
Is it possible to come to Thailand after a global catastrophe?
After the disaster , Thai authorities and US scientists installed the world's largest deep-sea system for the early detection of tsunamis. A warning of an impending disaster occurs several hours before the disaster. Also, after the tragedy, a system of evacuating people away from giant waves was worked out. Even on such a small island as Phi Phi, it is possible to evacuate to the mountains.
The system, which sounds the alarm in advance, was tested on April 11, 2012, when the tsunami happened again (everyone was evacuated, this tragedy did not bring such terrible consequences as in 2004). In addition, scientists predict that tens of years should pass before the next natural disaster.
For those who are still afraid to relax near the sea, experienced travelers are advised to go to the north of the country, where the worst thing that can happen is to leave the banks of the Chao Phray or Mekong rivers. This is rather unpleasant, but not fatal.
What should be done if a tsunami happens?
The first sign of approaching giant waves is an earthquake. To date, the security system of Thailand, detecting changes in the depths of the waters of the ocean, signals a danger. In no case can you ignore the abrupt ebbs of water. In such a situation, you need to act very quickly.
If tremors occur or there is a warning of an approaching tsunami, you must:
- collect all valuables, warn as many people as possible about the danger, hurry to leave the territory;
- hide from giant waves in mountains or areas located far from the coast;
- pay attention to signs showing the shortest path to the hill;
- the first wave can be small, so in a safe place you need to be about two hours, until complete calm.
After the devastating tsunami of 2004, the government revised the security system, and today the risk of hazardous events is reduced.