# Many Thousands Reported Dead in Tsunamis in South and Southeast Asia **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 26, 2004, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668 "2004-12-26T09:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/61 "2004-12-27T07:20:34Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Actually, what I meant by my question, will Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, etc get hit by the ripple effect a little bit later, or has that danger already passed? [The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center](http://www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/ptwc/bulletins.htm) is very quick with their bulletins. No danger to us. If you look at where the earthquake occurred [(scroll down to the close up shot)](http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqinthenews/2004/usslav/) those little islands just south of Sumatra probably kept Australia from being hit badly. New Zealand probably saw something in the range of a millimeter or so bouncing off of Antarctica. Have any of the aftershocks caused their own tsunamis? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/62 "2004-12-27T07:41:26Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Remember, there were no casualty figures from Africa. 8 reported deaths in Somalia, and possibly more to come. Earthquake re-evaluated to 9.0. Death toll 16,500 and rising. ☹ This could end up being one of the most widespread disasters the world has ever known. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/63 "2004-12-27T09:00:49Z")
The [trapped divers have been rescued](http://www.itv.com/news/world_865466.html). ITV News is showing footage of the first wave captured on camcorder in Penang, Malaysia. Terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/64 "2004-12-27T09:02:43Z")
> [@False\_God](#): > > Sri Lanka checking in. Glad to hear from you. Thanks for checking in. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/65 "2004-12-27T12:09:43Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > 8 reported deaths in Somalia, and possibly more to come. > > Earthquake re-evaluated to 9.0. > > Death toll 16,500 and rising. ☹ > > This could end up being one of the most widespread disasters the world has ever known. On the radio news on the way in they mentioned in excess of 20,000. I just hope there will be some “good news” stories, like people found or rescued to offset some of the bad. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/66 "2004-12-27T13:31:43Z")
21,000 + dead & rising. Public Health officials warn of epidemics caused by the decomposing dead, in the tropical heat. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/67 "2004-12-27T13:43:01Z")
Still no Xash. I hope to heck he’s just without power or very busy. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/68 "2004-12-27T15:47:36Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Still no Xash. I hope to heck he’s just without power or very busy. I’m just now talking to him on MSN. He’s fine. He’s on the west coast of the country. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/69 "2004-12-27T16:55:04Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > I’m just now talking to him on MSN. He’s fine. He’s on the west coast of the country. 🙂 Thanks, **QED**. I’ve been hoping to see him sign on ICQ. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/70 "2004-12-27T16:59:42Z")
9.0 is insane! Massive damage on the east coast here. I can only imagine the devastation of such an extraordinary event, ironically at a time when most people are holidaying and celebrating. That belt has some beautiful places, and there are lots of tourists over there at this time of the year. There’s even a little known set of wonderful islands, the Andaman and Nicobar islands, a little to the east of India. Heavy damage there as well. Thankfully, I’m on the west coast. Thank you for looking out for your fellow members. If any of you need to reach anyone in India, feel free to email me. Here’s a good map showing the epicenter and the affected areas: [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/972640.cms](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/972640.cms) For those without access to TV, here’s a small video: [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/972056.cms](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/972056.cms) Also, UN warns of post-tsunami epidemics [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/971943.cms](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/971943.cms) ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/71 "2004-12-27T17:01:26Z")
There are also reports that there were some 40,000 fisherfolk out at sea at the time. That’s a lot of people still unaccounted for. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/72 "2004-12-27T17:01:56Z")
For people who have relatives/friends in Phuket, here is a website listing hospital admissions and deaths there: [http://www.dinsormai.com/](http://www.dinsormai.com/) Does anyone know how the Philippines fared in this storm? From the CNN map, it looks a bit out of range, but one of my coworkers is there and we are trying to figure out what’s happening there. ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/73 "2004-12-27T17:33:28Z")
**False God** , glad to see you’re still with us. Thanks for checking in. We were about to send Cecil after you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/74 "2004-12-27T18:19:26Z")
Drudge Report is saying the island of Sumatra moved 100 feet. No link…I imagine they’re getting confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/75 "2004-12-27T18:28:10Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > On the radio news on the way in they mentioned in excess of 20,000. I just hope there will be some “good news” stories, like people found or rescued to offset some of the bad. Well, it’s just one guy out of thousands, but [here](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041227.wquake-survive27/BNStory/Front) is a story about a Canadian tourist who was swept out to sea and survived to be picked up by a rescue chopper 10 hours later. He’s apparently staying to volunteer for the Red Cross rather than returning home. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/76 "2004-12-27T18:59:28Z")
> [@xash](#): > > There are also reports that there were some 40,000 fisherfolk out at sea at the time. That’s a lot of people still unaccounted for. I don’t think tsunamis are that much of a threat to boats out at sea - they only grow large when they reach shallow water on the coastline. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/77 "2004-12-27T20:32:59Z")
And ain’t none of it good. [http://www.news4jax.com/news/4026421/detail.html](http://www.news4jax.com/news/4026421/detail.html) I just donated $200 to the Red Cross International Response Fund. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/78 "2004-12-27T20:54:15Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > I don’t think tsunamis are that much of a threat to boats out at sea - they only grow large when they reach shallow water on the coastline. That really depends on the size and type of boat, plus the size of the wave, plus which way the boat was headed when the wave hit. > [@](#): > > A Somali presidential spokesman said an unknown number of people — but in the hundreds — died and entire villages disappeared on the African country’s coastline. “All of the fishermen who went to sea (Sunday) haven’t come back,” Yusuf Ismail said. A lot of these poor fishermen go out in shallow draft boats and stick fairly close to land. A big wave could easily capsize them. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/79 "2004-12-27T21:20:14Z")
From the AP > [@](#): > > In Sri Lanka, which suffered the biggest loss of life in the tsunami, crowds had come to the beaches to watch the sea after word spread that it was producing larger-than-normal waves. Thousands of children joined their elders to see the spectacle. The waves brought in fish. The old and the young collected them. Many waited for more fun. Then the 15 feet-to-20 feet tidal waves hit the tropical island of 19 million people. “They got caught and could not run to safety. This is the reason why we have so many child victims,” said Rienzie Perera, a police spokesman who said reports from affected police stations indicated children made up about half the victims in Sri Lanka. On Monday, parents wept over the bodies of their children in streets and hospitals across the island, even as some dead children still dangled unclaimed from barbed wire fences. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/80 "2004-12-27T21:27:18Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > I just donated $200 to the Red Cross International Response Fund. Is there an online donation page? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668.md?page=5)