# 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:** 5
**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, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/81 "2004-12-27T21:48:02Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Is there an online donation page? Check out the link in his original post. Left hand side of the page. ---
**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, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/82 "2004-12-27T21:49:57Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Check out the link in his original post. Left hand side of the page. The word “left” here means “scroll to the bottom of the story, but not all the way to the bottom of the page, where there are links to relief agencies which are, in fact, _left_ justified.” :smack: ---
**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, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/83 "2004-12-27T21:58:42Z")
The grandson of the Thai king is [dead](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6754820/?GT1=5936). He was on a jetski. It could be days before they know how many. What a horrible, horrible tragedy. ---
**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, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/84 "2004-12-27T22:05:19Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Check out the link in his original post. Left hand side of the page. Thanks. The donation page is hung at the minute, which I guess is a good sign. ---
**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, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/85 "2004-12-27T22:28:37Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > The grandson of the Thai king is [dead](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6754820/?GT1=5936). He was on a jetski. > > It could be days before they know how many. What a horrible, horrible tragedy. There wasn’t anything on this at your link anymore (that I could find), so I found a link at the [Bangkok Post](http://www.bangkokpost.com/en/Outlook/28Dec2004_out01.php): > [@](#): > > Thailand mourns the death of Khun Poom Jensen, the only son of Princess Ubolratana, who went missing when a gigantic wave hit his resort hotel at Khao Lak in Phangnga’s Takua Pa district on Sunday. > > Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed the sad news yesterday afternoon while inspecting losses in neighbouring Phuket province. > > Mr Thaksin said the body of Khun Poom, 21, was found some 100 metres away from the La Flora hotel around 10am yesterday. His body was later taken by helicopter to Phuket Watchara Hospital. > > His four bodyguards were safe with slight injuries, but two divers providing security for him while in the sea were still missing. Note that “Khun” in Thai is honorific, like “Mister” in English. ---
**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, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/86 "2004-12-27T22:54:36Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Thanks. The donation page is hung at the minute, which I guess is a good sign. Got through in the end. If you’re trying at the moment, just leave it loading for about 15 minutes. ---
**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 28, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/87 "2004-12-28T00:43:37Z")
Here’s the link to the [Salvation Army](http://www2.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf) I trust them more than I do the Red Cross ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/88 "2004-12-28T00:49:11Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > Here’s the link to the [Salvation Army](http://www2.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf) > > I trust them more than I do the Red Cross > [@](#): > > The Salvation Army is a truly international movement, sharing in the mission of Christ for the salvation and transformation of the world. I think I’ll stick with AmerCares or the Red Cross, thanks. ---
**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 28, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/89 "2004-12-28T00:49:55Z")
Pin a rose on your nose :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/90 "2004-12-28T00:52:13Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > I trust them more than I do the Red Cross All assistance is clearly necessarily, but I really don’t think this is the thread to be making political points. Let’s just try to encourage everyone to donate to whomever they wish, as long as it’s directed towards helping the victims of the disaster, without fear nor favour. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/91 "2004-12-28T01:17:22Z")
(First, all religion aside, the Salvation Army really knows their stuff when it comes to disasters. Even in my neighbourhood they’re often out with the soup wagon for the homeless etc.) This is truly terrible. This morning our local news was saying 25,000. It’s even worse when you hear that so many of the victims were kids. I keep hearing that we’re overdue for about an 8-9 around here. Apparently we had a 9 back on Christmas Day 1799, which they dated by looking at records of the resulting tidal wave that hit Japan. I can only imagine what would happen if the Vancouver area got nailed. Last I heard we were coming up fast on a population level of 4,000,000 in the GVRD. Here’s hoping they’ll find at least some of the boats. I suppose if they were pulled out to sea, they may be sitting without power, especially the smaller fishing boats that may have had limited fuel. You know, it’s weird. I NEVER have “premonitions” but for the last couple of weeks I’ve had “Christmas Quake” in my head. Maybe I was just thinking of the 1799 one, but it’s odd, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/92 "2004-12-28T02:40:35Z")
Photos from the Phuket tsunami taken from the second floor of a hotel by Hellmut Issels: [http://www.pbase.com/issels/phuket\_tsunami&page=all](http://www.pbase.com/issels/phuket_tsunami&page=all) ---
**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 28, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/93 "2004-12-28T02:54:12Z")
I had no idea Thailand was so beautiful ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/94 "2004-12-28T05:39:31Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > I had no idea Thailand was so beautiful Here’s a [link to some photos of Koh Phi Phi](http://www.phuket.com/island/phiphi.htm), (Phi Phi Island) which is, in my estimation, much more beautiful than Phuket. It’s hard to get a sense of it without an [aerial view](http://www.thailand-hotels.co.uk/pics/ppaerialphoto.jpg), though. It’s just a smallish island. Phuket is also an island, but more in the sense that Manhattan is an island. It’s very close to the mainland and fairly large. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/95 "2004-12-28T09:38:21Z")
From the hills and jungles of the north, to the islands and beaches of the south, Thailand’s pretty much the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/96 "2004-12-28T13:30:02Z")
Here in Sri Lanka, where as Eve’s post above states the majority of the victims were in fact children, I’ve been fielding press calls all day (got interviewed by CNN and VOA) and now we have the problem that Sri Lanka’s tropical and bodies don’t do well in heat. The bodies are being photographed at some morgues, but not all, so we may have to volunteer to go around and photograph the obvious non-Sri Lankans before they get tossed into the mass graves that are rapidly becoming the only solution. 100+ Americans still unaccounted for, and as families start to come forward in the coming weeks, we’d like to have some record. Sad but true fact of life of dealing with a natural disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/97 "2004-12-28T15:14:44Z")
**False God** , and **xash** , it is really nice to hear from you both. I checked with my family, too, and they are shocked and dismayed - but perfectly safe, considering where they are. I don’t have much money, but I’m going to try and raise some for the Red Cross. My Og, this is awful. All my thoughts with the people in the area. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/98 "2004-12-28T15:24:57Z")
I expect this will become a bigger story over the next week. Was just checking some stuff on Thailand. Over 700 foreigners are dead there, and they expect that might rise above 2,000. Mostly Europeans. At one resort alone there are about 600 Swedes missing, although those might just be cutoff from contact. > [@](#): > > Soldiers used bulldozers Tuesday to push into a strip of Thai luxury resorts destroyed by tidal waves, and picked the bodies of European tourists from ruined gardens and suites. > > Officials said at least 700 foreigners had died, and the death toll could reach 2,000. > … > > Citizens from South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, South Africa, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Portugal, Israel, Chile, Spain and the United States were among the thousands of foreigners in stricken areas of six provinces Sunday. > > The Swedish tour operator Fritidsresor said 600 Swedes who were vacationing in Khao Lak were not accounted for. This is right in the middle of the high season for tourism. It will be a huge blow to the Thai economy. ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/99 "2004-12-28T16:14:14Z")
I just heard on the local news that the combined death toll is now estimated to be more than 40,000. ☹ **False God** and **xash** , thanks for checking in. My thoughts are with everyone in the area, and well as those waiting to hear from friends and relatives. ---
**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 28, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668/100 "2004-12-28T16:30:37Z")
> [@ladybug](#): > > I just heard on the local news that the combined death toll is now estimated to be more than 40,000. ☹ It’s even worse than that. It’s now estimated that there are [55,000](http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=596563) dead, and this estimate is still expected to rise. This is awful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/many-thousands-reported-dead-in-tsunamis-in-south-and-southeast-asia/281668.md?page=6)