Asia Devastated by Tsunami Disaster, Over 11,500 Killed
Politics | December 26, 2004, Sunday
Fishing boats and a car destroyed by waves at the Langkawi, a resort island in northwestern Malaysia. Over 3,000 people were killed by tidal waves across Asia which followed the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that hit earlier Sunday. Photo by AP/BTA
More than 11,500 people died after one of the most powerful earthquakes in history hit Asia Sunday, unleashing a tsunami which devastated coastal areas of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and tourist isles in Thailand.
The tsunami, wreaked death, chaos and destruction across southern Asia. Up to 30 feet high, the tsunami was triggered by an 8.9 magnitude underwater earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
In Sri Lanka, where the death toll reached 3,500, corpses floated in floodwaters, while thousands fled their homes and cars floated out to sea. The worst-hit area appeared to be the tourist regions of the south and east where beach hotels were inundated or swept away.
In Indonesia, where 2,583 were killed, raging waters dragged villagers out to sea and tore children from their parents' arms.
Wailing relatives gathered around bodies in the south of India, where more than 1,870 died. Beaches were littered with submerged cars and wrecked boats. Shanties on the coast of Madras, where 100 died, were under water.
Sri Lanka appealed to the world for aid, saying that one million people, or 5 percent of its population, were affected. The global Red Cross launched an immediate emergency appeal. India feared a devastating toll along its southeastern coast. About 3,000 people were listed as dead in India.
In the Maldives, none of the thousands of foreign visitors in the beach paradise, was believed to have been killed although some had suffered minor injuries. In holiday islands off southern Thailand, emergency workers rescued about 70 Thai and foreign divers from the famed Emeral Cave and dozens were evacuated from around other islands. Two Thais were killed at Emeral cave.
The tsunami, wreaked death, chaos and destruction across southern Asia. Up to 30 feet high, the tsunami was triggered by an 8.9 magnitude underwater earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
In Sri Lanka, where the death toll reached 3,500, corpses floated in floodwaters, while thousands fled their homes and cars floated out to sea. The worst-hit area appeared to be the tourist regions of the south and east where beach hotels were inundated or swept away.
In Indonesia, where 2,583 were killed, raging waters dragged villagers out to sea and tore children from their parents' arms.
Wailing relatives gathered around bodies in the south of India, where more than 1,870 died. Beaches were littered with submerged cars and wrecked boats. Shanties on the coast of Madras, where 100 died, were under water.
Sri Lanka appealed to the world for aid, saying that one million people, or 5 percent of its population, were affected. The global Red Cross launched an immediate emergency appeal. India feared a devastating toll along its southeastern coast. About 3,000 people were listed as dead in India.
In the Maldives, none of the thousands of foreign visitors in the beach paradise, was believed to have been killed although some had suffered minor injuries. In holiday islands off southern Thailand, emergency workers rescued about 70 Thai and foreign divers from the famed Emeral Cave and dozens were evacuated from around other islands. Two Thais were killed at Emeral cave.
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