Earthquake in Indonesia, just happened I am there :-(

Just a hello from Phuket in Thailand, exactly in Kata at the south of the Island. I am sure you heard about the disaster in Indonesia.

I am here on holidays with my wife enjoying the Christmas festivities in a very hot weather, and this now to spoil a very good vacations. :-(

We were all lucky to not be there on the beach at the moment of the tsunami. Usually we like to go early on the beach enjoying a cooler sea. Strangely my wife and I woke up late yesterday and where we live, when we get up around 9:30, we saw a lot of Thai people coming running from the beach. This is how we knew something wrong was happening.

Later on we went down to the beach and believe me, the paradise has been changed to hell. We know also for sure that the official figures underestimate the number of casualtiesa, if you think about all the fishermen.

If you think that Phuket live and breathe from the tourism, this is really a bad thing for Thailand.

Anyway today life is going on, we are trying to help locals, especially the shopkeepers we knows. My condoleances to all the families who suffer from this event.

   
Kata                    Club Med             The beach

Click on each image to see the real size

42 Comments

  • I'm glad you're OK man!!!



    You're doing a good thing helping people out.

  • Happy to see that you're in good health. A terrible disaster with victims that grow every day :(

  • I am surprised not to hear anything about any ships as that is a very busy shipping route.



    And I am surprised of no mention of the burma delta, because of India and Sri Lanka were hit, there is no way the burma delta was spared.

  • Glad to hear you're OK!!!

  • Just IM'ed with a geek friend from Sri Lanka - god thank you are both OK, because there are currently over 25,000 thousand people who died ... incredible.

  • Good to hear that you're ok Paschal!! It is hard to believe how many people died ... :-((((

  • Was just thinking about you and Sinéad. Glag to hear you are both ok. Speak to you when you get back.

  • FIRST: GOD WAS WITH YOU BOTH FOR SURE....IT LOOKS TO BE OVERWHELMING AND SUCH DEVASTATION AT THIS POINT AND FUTURE PROJECTED MEANS DISEASE WILL SET IN....I KNOW OUR USA WILL BE THERE FOR THEM AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS.....THIS IS THE WORST; TAKE CARE AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT OF THESE PEOPLE.....AND YOU WILL BE ON PRAYER CHAIN IN DEBOWS METHDIST CHURCH IN JACKSON NJ

  • thank god that the two of you are safe, try to help as many people as you can, they will be needing all they help that they can get, you're in my prayers and thoughts.... be safe. This is unbelievable

  • God has saved u to help others. Please do so

  • I missed your original post. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

  • Glad to hear that you are safe. I hope many others are as lucky. I have friends/relatives in the Kata / Karon area - do you have any further photos of any damage done to that area. The news stories are really grim! My prayers are with all across the region.

  • Take care!!



    Some colleagues on holiday there are missing... :-(



    Hope they find them in a hospital somewhere.

  • I heard about everything on the news here and was wondering if there were any ways of volunterring to help over there with anything at all. If anyone knows how I can go about doing this then please e-mail me at stephanie__paul@hotmail.com

  • truly horrendous and heart-wrenching...I want to go over and comfort children without parents and parents without children....can anyone give advice re where to fly into?? any other info re volunteering would be helpful! e-mail: graceofsummer@yahoo.com

  • Same with me. Please if anybody knows of anywhere that needs volunteers of in the UK to help with aid or in Indonesia please email sallyletch@hotmail.com.

    Many thanks.

  • We are trying to gather medical supplies and water purifying tablets we will be going to thailand on the 05/01/05 leaving from New Caledonia we have contacts in Phuket but if there is someone in charge of the relief effort we would like to get in touch please forward any info at spaceaccess@yahoo.com

    Thanks

  • god thank you are both OK. Do you have some images from Kata Beach Resort, after disaster? Please send to me.

    cnatario@bportugal.pt



    Take care!!

  • If you are in the area...

  • So glad you are safe. I believe that these homeless people, especially women and children need to be air lifted out of there now....evacuate to the US, Europe, Canada, Australia, Sweden....wherever they can get away from the disease and devastation, and where the people living in these countries could rally around them to ensure their needs are met more readily. When the land has been cleaned up, watersystems put in and utilities restored, I think the men could start coming back to help with the restoration. I believe with all the aid coming in and all that can be rebuilt would happen much more quickly and safely with the millions of people tempoarily moved out of there ASAP! Hopfhully, the natives who lost their homes can state their claims before they leave. Then when they come back to rebuild, they can do so hopefully in the same spot as their previous home had been. Hopefully, the tourest industry will rebuild after such an evacuation and provide employment for the natives to come back to (maybe even for the rebuilding). But again, I think that for now, most of these pople should be taken out of there to safe, sanitary and dignified living conditions so the land can be first restored and freed from disease before their return. Such a swift plan, I believe would help to restore hope to so many - that action is being taken (instead oh the devastated feelings of hopelessness witnessed of so many who sit among the debris what is no longer their life as they knew it.) I think this swift action and plan would grealy restore hope for those who have inconceivably lost so much.

  • Hey, my parents are in thailand, they were on phi phi isalnd and got away, and are now on another island, they were there on holiday for a month, and are not coming home until the middle of january. Id rather them come home now because i was so worried about them, it was like watching something out of 'the day after tomorrow' when i saw the news, and my heart was in my mouth :( im only 16, and i feared my parents were no longer alive, but they finally got in touch with me and they are alive and well.

    I feel so much for the people who have suffered a very painful loss, and my heart goes out to them. This tragic happening is by far the most horrifying disaster i have seen in my life ... :(

  • What do you guys think about travelling to Thailand in about 4 months. I am supposed to be going on a tour there beginning May1st, but my parents (and it seems like EVERYONE around us) is really worried about the disease. Of course we would not visit the places that have been hit ... they were on our itinerary but that has been changed.... anyways, what do you all think about travelling there? I have a deposit due in 10 days and need to decide soon! Thanks so much...

  • Hi,I guess I'm just as keen as most people to volunteer to help in this disaster. I have been a member of the Mountain Rescue Team for 17 years, and have had to deal with many casualties, dead and alive, including Lockerbie. This is much greater and more horrific on a bigger scale I know. I have tried to volunteer to help, even with the search and rescue training, casualty care and years of experience I just don't know who to approach as no one seems to know anything. Many in our team would also like to go. Any ideas ?

  • Anda sungguh beruntung selamat dari bencana itu. Banyak saudara2 saya di Aceh yang tidak beruntung; selain meninggal, banyak juga yang kehilangan sanak saudara karena tercerai berai oleh badai yang dahsyat. Saya memohon bantuan teman2 yang lain untuk menolong saudara2 kita yang tertimpa musibah di Aceh. Diharapkan bantuannya untuk tempat yang terpencil di Sumatra.

  • It works!



    January 02, 2005 15:35:56 GMT

    67.0% chance of Tsunami from M 6.2, Nicobar Islands, India region

    Time to India / Sri Lanka / Maldives : >= 101.0 mins

    Time to Phuket / Langkawi / Penang : >= 57.0 mins

  • All I can say I am sad for the victims in this terrible disaster.I really feel for the thia people my family and I have been to phuket twice hang around petong beach and its sad seeing what had happen my heart goes out to u all and I will be donating money to help surpport the victims and I hope many more will.And my family and I will return to phuket again this year and I hope many more do as they will need your support.All our australian spirit will always be there for u all.

  • I would love to come and help in anyway. I am in Utah and can leave immediately. Who should I contact to volunteer.



    God Bless you for all you are doing. I too want to help.



    Wendy Olsen

    payitfwd@msn.com

  • its hard to belive a lot of people die in the earthqake

    =-[ that no fair y does it need to happen thay lost thier family members

  • This is a very sad thing that just happended and I know that we all would be very sared if it were to happen to us and all of us would remember this fooorever

  • This is a very sad thing that just happended and I know that we all would be very sared if it were to happen to us and all of us would remember this fooorever

  • if anybody knows any information on volunteering please pass on, thanks. I am currently working in vietnam.



    casey_hamilton@hotmail.com

  • Well done you did a very noble thing!!!

  • I am saddened to hear of the great loss you all have suffered. I am a firefighter from the US and if there is anyway to come and volunteer please let me know. I would be wiling to help anyway I could. We are praying for you all.



    God Bless

    Jerry

  • I can't believe all of the responses you have! God Bless and Good Luck. My hearts go out to all effected by this disaster...I am wondering if there are any links to the "little places" in Kata Beach. I have heard of resorts lost, but I have friends in Kata Beach in the lower range hotels. I am looking for the people of Kata Villa and the restaurant next door. I know you are receiving a lot of emails and comments, but if there are any links to find out this info, I'd appreciate it.

  • I'm so grateful that you are okay! May god be with you and your family, along with all the other surviviors that are feeling the effects of this horrible disaster.



    My son's school is collecting money to send to the relief funds to help out with the disaster. I do hope that this puts a smile on your face and the faces of others that have endured such a tragedy.



    Everyday I am saddened by the toll number that keeps on rising... We will be sure to pray for everyone daily.

  • hope u and all your friends ok!!!

  • I HAVE TICKETS FOR THAILAND AND KOH SAMUI ISLAND,,IS IT SAFE FOR ME TO TRAVLE THERE NOW

    OR IS THERE EARTHQUAKES TO FEAR IN THIS AREA NOW

    I GO IN MARCH 30TH TO APRIL 8TH IN SAUMI ISLAND

    AND I AM SO SORRY FOR EVERYONE AND THE FAMILIES

    WE HERE IN THE USA ARE HELPING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH PRIVATE DONATIONS TO HELP

    WE ARE SO FAR AWAY..BUT WE ALL DO SEND MONEY AND LOVE

    THANKS

    JOEY USA MONTANA JAN. 9TH 2005

  • As a resident of Phuket, I'd just like to reassure you that Koh Samui is on the other side of Thailand and completely untouched by the waves. Make sure you triple reconfirm your reservation however, as most of the Phuket holidaymakers flew over there and from the reports from our sister hotel, they are requesting additional staff to handle the sudden immense workload.



    As for Phuket, I am happy to report that Phuket is also very safe to travel to and remains an extremely enjoyable destination, and a much more peaceful one at this time than Samui. The cleanup process is going amazingly fast and the Thai people have just been excellent, always calm and forever smiling! Kata and Karon beach have been cleaned up, Patong is coming along very very nicely. Check www.phuket-photos.com. The cleanup will be finished by months end, the eyesores removed and the rebuilding won't take long either as they've already started and the structures were small and basic.



    I guarrantee you both Phuket and Koh Samui are still great destinations. I do have to recommend you stay away from Phi Phi and Kao Lak, theres not much accomodations there anymore and the destruction is more severe.

  • i feel very sad about this incident and have deep feelings with them. but one thing i want to say is that i am a muslim and in our religion it is stated that when vulgaratiy cross its limits then GOD never forgives the people who are doing this. i have seen the pictures of beaches and the people their had crossed all the limits, thats why GOD destroys them all.

  • Great to hear that you are safe.

    I am feel very sad about this incident.

    Just hope everybody will be all right.

    I want to send my regards for those who have loose they loves ones.



  • thank god you`re all-right,allah saved you.be thankful

  • Pilot, builder planner,coordinator, how can i HELP?



    Chuck

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