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How many people died from the tsunami. Devastating earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia (2004)

A powerful tsunami occurred on December 26, 2004 in Thailand, at the very peak of the season. Its cause is an underwater earthquake in Indian Ocean. It is still considered one of the most serious natural disasters in the world. modern history and the third strongest in the entire history of observation. Its power was 9.1 on the Richter scale.

The power of the disaster can be judged by the fact that it even hit South Africa, where waves of 1.5 m were recorded. All over the world, this event claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people; according to various estimates, the number of tsunami victims in 2004 ranged from 200,000 up to 300,000 people.

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The epicenter of the earthquake was located near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The countries most affected were those located directly next to it: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Maldives, Myanmar, Malaysia and others. Waves 15 m high reached the coasts of the countries at different times - to Sumatra very quickly, to India - after 1.5 hours, and to Somalia - after 7 hours. The tsunami reached the mainland of Thailand 2 hours after the earthquake.

The large number of victims is explained by a poor tsunami warning and recognition system. The fact is that huge waves appear only near the shore, and in the ocean they are not particularly high. A good indicator was the animals that overnight left all coastal areas and rushed to the mountains. But man, in the process of evolution, lost his intuition and connection with nature, and therefore he rested as if nothing had happened.

Tsunami in Thailand in 2004

The 2004 tsunami hit western part Thailand, which opens into the Andaman Sea, was heavily affected by Phuket, Phi Phi, Khao Lak, Lanta, Krabi, and the Similian Islands. An estimated 9,000 people died, most of them tourists rather than locals.

Externally, the tsunami in Thailand in 2004 looked like this: suddenly the water began to move from the shore to the sea for a very long distance, and after a few minutes everyone saw giant waves approaching the shore. There were 1-2 minutes left for rescue. Since the height of the waves reached 10-15 meters, many “low-rise” hotels were flooded. However, we will omit the details so as not to recall the tragedy once again. Probably everyone has seen the news footage that has spread all over the world: twisted trees, cars, trains...

Phuket tsunami 2004

The tsunami affected almost everything West Coast Phuket, where the most are located - Patong, Karon, Kamala and Kata. The infrastructure - hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs - was partially destroyed. According to general estimates, several hundred people died.

Despite the fact that the tsunami on the island of Phuket caused great destruction, the infrastructure was restored very quickly. In fact, by 2006 there was nothing left to remind us of this tragic event.

Tsunami in 2012

The 2012 tsunami was a failed tsunami and, in a sense, even a curious incident. Many people don’t even know that it happened. But first things first.

Should you be afraid of a tsunami in Thailand in Phuket, Phi Phi and others

Having described all the horrors of the tsunami above, many will decide not to contact Thailand and forever deprive themselves of the joy of relaxing at the resorts of the Andaman coast. We hasten to reassure you. Our answer is clear - it’s not worth it. The fact is that after the 2004 tragedy, the Thai government, together with American experts, installed a deep-sea system (the largest in the world) for early detection of tsunamis. A loudspeaker system has also been installed on the coast, which notifies the population of the approaching disaster in several languages. And all this happens a couple of hours before the expected disaster. An evacuation system has already been developed that will quickly deliver people to safe areas, away from the sea.

You may ask, what about on such small islands as the Phi Phi Islands, where you don’t get very far from the coast. Again, our answer is no need to worry. There are huge mountains there, compared to which the wave height of 15 meters is simply dwarfed.

The early warning system was tested on April 11, 2012, when there was a tsunami in Thailand and when the entire west coast of Phuket was evacuated, which I witnessed. So everything is fine, welcome to the resorts of the Andaman coast!

If you are still tormented by vague doubts, then relax at the resorts of the Gulf of Thailand. They are successfully protected by the Malay Peninsula from tsunamis in the Indian Ocean and by Cambodia and Vietnam from tsunamis in Pacific Ocean. The safest ones are located in the very depths of the Gulf of Thailand - Pattaya, Rayong, Hua Hin, Cha Am, Samet Island and Koh Larn. If you come to Thailand for long term and the sea is not particularly important for you, then go to the north of the country, where the worst thing that can happen is for the river to overflow its banks Chao Phraya or Mekong. Of course, this is an unpleasant event, but not fatal.

Tsunamis in Thailand can occur due to the fact that the country is located near an area of seismic activity. Earthquakes deep in the Indian Ocean can reach the country in the form of a tsunami. After the tragic events of 2004, when a raging water disaster off the coast of Asia claimed more than three hundred thousand civilian lives, a special national seismological service closely monitors the seismic state in the ocean and keeps reports.

The approaching tsunami to Thailand in 2004

If excessive seismic activity is detected, Thai residents will be warned in advance. If a tourist is going to go on vacation to Thailand, then he needs to know what a tsunami is and what consequences they can bring.

The tsunami in Thailand in 2004 began with the fact that on December 26 at 8 a.m. local time a powerful earthquake occurred in the depths of the Indian Ocean, with a power of 9-10.5 points on the Richter scale. After the start of the first seismic activity, huge waves demolished many residential buildings in a couple of hours. Residents of Asia, and especially Thailand, suffered huge losses.

That day, residents and visitors of Thailand, suspecting nothing, went about their business: some went to work, while others came to the beach in the morning. The tsunami began with tremors that no one felt, so panic arose only when the first waves off the coast of Phuket, reaching a height of about 40 meters, began to demolish everything in their path: houses, trees; flooding residential areas.

The first thing that residents noticed after the tremors was that animals and birds began to panic and hide wherever they could. Then, at about 9 a.m., the water off the coast strangely receded, and people began collecting shells on shallow areas of the water surface. The first shock wave, foreshadowing a tsunami, was about 15 meters high, and it was noticed too late. It lacked a white crest, and for a long time it was invisible against the background of the sea surface.

The shock wave rolled hundreds of meters, or even several kilometers forward overland, demolishing everything that could be demolished: concrete buildings, signs, shops, trees. With the same force, capturing everything carried back with it, the wave moved back towards the ocean. So the flood in Thailand took people's lives with it, killing them with shock waves.

Consequences of the tsunami in Thailand in 2004

Immediately after the end of the shock wave, the government ordered the immediate task of rescue services to comb the territory of Thailand to find the dead and injured. In hot climates, infections spread at lightning speed, so the dead had to be urgently found and buried. The state suffered greatly from loss and devastation, so many countries provided material assistance to Thailand. According to statistics from natural disaster 8.5 thousand people died in the former Siam. Of these, 5.5 thousand were tourists from more than 40 countries, and a third of them were minors. When the Thai authorities calculated the damage caused by the 2004 flood, the disaster caused by the earthquake was recognized as the most destructive and deadly of all that had happened before.

Reminder for vacationers

Although a large-scale tsunami has not been observed in Thailand since 2004 to this day, a cautious traveler can really worry about the safety of his stay in Thailand. So you need to remember a few important points in case such a situation arises.

The Indochinese peninsula covers the territory of the Gulf of Thailand, so tourists traveling to cities such as Pattaya, Koh Samet, Koh Chang and Koh Kood need to worry less than tourists who vacation on Phi Phi or Phuket.

It was previously reported that after the tragic events when floods in Thailand claimed thousands of lives, a center was established to detect the slightest seismic activity. If the seismological service notices even minor fluctuations, then it is their responsibility to report this to the authorities, and then the means mass media will spread information about the approaching cataclysm across all radio and television channels.

So thrifty tourists should listen to the news of the day on the radio and read local newspapers every day in Thailand; it also wouldn’t hurt to simultaneously view Internet news online. Especially if travelers are vacationing in the southern part of the former kingdom of Siam.

The main signs of an impending flood are:

Something strange is happening to the water off the coast - a rapid ebb begins with such lightning speed that fish and other inhabitants of the seabed do not have time to swim for water, and remain on the sand.
Animals that live on land begin to panic: they run away from their houses to higher ground or hide in other secluded places.

What should be done in the event of a threat of a marine disaster?

On the territory of beach areas there are often signs with a guide to highest point or to evacuation sites.
After the end of the earthquake and before the start of a natural disaster, there is always a time period, which sometimes lasts several hours, during which time you can take transport and leave the city further.
It is advisable to contact the rescue service and follow all the instructions they provide online.
You cannot panic and lose self-control - you need to reason calmly and act according to safety rules.

The history of the 2004 flood in cinematography

The tsunami in Thailand left a huge mark on human history. In particular, there is a film that tells about the past events of 2004 in Thailand. The film is called "The Impossible". The story tells how the family of a certain Maria Belon survived the disaster of 2004 and remained alive. The film is based on real events. Maria Belen is a living person, she was actually present during the disaster, but while saving herself, she lost part of her leg. Now Maria works as a lawyer (she is a doctor by profession) and defends people affected by the tsunami in Thailand.

disaster film "The Impossible"

“The Impossible” is a 2012 film directed by a Spanish director. The participant in the real events herself chose the actress for the main role, who successfully played it and received an Oscar for best acting. Maria Belen Alvarez also took an active part in working on the script together with screenwriter Sergio Sanchez.

The plot of the film: a family of five (father, mother and three boys) come to relax in Thailand, and one terrible day a tsunami takes them all by surprise: a man with two children is swimming, and the mother and eldest son are sitting on the shore.

A powerful stream of water of enormous height covers the entire family, and they are forced to flee. The water sweeps away everything in its path, Maria, making titanic efforts, emerges from the water and grabs the branch of a tree. Meanwhile, she notices that her eldest son is being carried away by the stream, and the woman heroically rushes into the pool of water to try to save her child. The story ends well - the father of a family with two younger children finds a mother with her eldest son in one of the hospitals.

Still from the film “The Impossible”

The film was not created to show tragic story with a happy ending. The meaning of the film lies primarily in its title. First, no one expected that a catastrophe of such magnitude could happen so suddenly, nevertheless, it happened. Secondly, the film shows an unimaginable desire to live. The film encourages you not to give up and not leave your loved ones, no matter what happens. It would seem that in such a catastrophic case it is useless to resist and attempt rescue, but the main character proves the opposite.

The tsunami in 2004 was one of the most destructive disasters of our time. Although the epicenter of the tsunami was in the eastern Indian Ocean, near Indonesia, the giant wave also reached Sri Lanka. The tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2004 was very destructive.
The incident in Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004 occurred unexpectedly - tsunami waves hit the island without warning, so the population did not have time to evacuate and prepare to face this cataclysm. Therefore there is nothing surprising in large quantities victims and injured during this natural disaster. A total of 13 tsunami tidal waves hit Sri Lanka. Only the northern part of the island was practically unaffected by the tsunami, while areas in the southwest, southeast and south of Sri Lanka were heavily damaged by this cataclysm.
The tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2004 was caused by earthquakes off the coast of Sumatra with a magnitude of 9.1 on the Richter scale. It was the third most powerful earthquake on Earth since the recording of earthquake power on the Richter scale began. Because of this earthquake, a tsunami was formed, which went in all directions from the epicenter of the earthquake. First of all, countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand suffered, but other Asian countries and even some countries also suffered East Africa.
There were at least two, and sometimes even up to six, tidal waves before the tsunami penetrated into the interior of the island of Sri Lanka. These waves also caused great damage to the island. In addition, the receding water also destroyed buildings and carried various objects and people into the ocean. This is why after the tsunami many people were considered missing.

Which areas of Sri Lanka were affected by the tsunami?

Sri Lanka was hit hard by the 2004 tsunami. Almost all areas of the island were affected. These are, in particular, not only areas in the south and southwest of Sri Lanka, but also areas of South-Eastern and Western Sri Lanka. Thus, almost three-quarters of the island's coastline was affected. In addition, the tsunami led to the most serious railway accident in the country, the number of victims of which exceeded 1000. There was another very negative effect - due to the tsunami it became almost impossible to determine the location of the more than a million anti-personnel mines on the islands that were laid during civil war.

Death toll from the 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami

Although Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are thought to have the highest number of tsunami casualties, Sri Lanka actually had the second highest death toll from the 2004 tsunami.
Reports on the number of deaths vary. As of March 1, 2005, an estimated 36,603 people died in the months following the tsunami. 800,000 people living on the coast of Sri Lanka are considered to be directly affected by the tsunami. They were injured and/or lost shelter or some other important property. Tourism and fishing have created high population densities along the coast. The coastal lifestyle of people in Sri Lanka contributed to the high mortality rate resulting from the tsunami. Below you will see an image that shows the death toll by region in Sri Lanka. In addition to the large death toll, approximately 100,000 buildings and 180 schools were destroyed. The houses were easily destroyed since they were built mainly from wood.
The damage caused by the 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami is visible even today. The country's infrastructure, which has been badly damaged, is being restored very slowly. The Sri Lankan government estimated the damage from the tsunami at $1.4 billion. One can imagine what this money means for such a poor country as Sri Lanka. Today, only monuments visually remind of the tsunami. One of them is the memorial in Hikkaduwa, which was built with financial support from Japan and is dedicated to the victims of the tsunami.

The impact of the tsunami on the nature of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island with a variety of plants and animals, many of which are endemic. Sri Lanka is also home to very delicate ecosystems such as a tropical forest, coral reefs and mangrove wetlands. The long-term impact of tsunamis on these ecosystems is not as clear as the impact on humans. Ecosystems, although very fragile, can withstand long periods of time after being harmed, making it difficult to judge how well they will recover from immediate damage. Wetlands and forests were initially destroyed, but how quickly and effectively they are restored is not yet known. It is important that these areas recover and regain the enormous biodiversity they once had.
The Sri Lanik forests acted as a barrier or cushion for the waves. Forested areas of the coast helped ease the impact of waves on the interior. No one knows how many lives have been saved by the forest environment.
There is an irony that is very evident in the tsunami story. The natural environment caused this disaster and stole the lives of many people. When the dust settled, people turned to the environment for food, shelter, and income, just as they had before. The importance of preserving coastal forests and wetlands to provide buffers for future tsunamis is emphasized. Fishermen whose boats were not destroyed are heading back to the oceans and tourists are once again toying with the idea of a holiday in Sri Lanka. The irony is that the source of such a horrific event was the giver of life on the island of Sri Lanka.

Earthquakes in Sri Lanka and the risk of a new tsunami

As you know, Sri Lanka has already experienced earthquakes and tsunamis. Today, many are interested in the question of what is the likelihood of a new tsunami or earthquake in Sri Lanka? Before attempting to answer this question, it is best to understand what is the main cause of earthquakes and tsunamis. First of all, it should be noted that predicting the time and date of future earthquakes and tsunamis is one of the frontiers of scientific research. Anyone who tries to predict a future earthquake may be considered to be speculating. So it's better to just look at what the actual probability of an earthquake in Sri Lanka is.
About 1000 km east of Sri Lanka lies the main plate boundary. It is close to Indonesia, Sumatra, Nicobar and Andaman Islands. This area is as active as ever. In fact, this particular plate boundary is the most active in the world right now. It was on this border that a gigantic earthquake measuring more than 9.0 on the Richter scale occurred, causing a tsunami in 2004. It is clear that this region is hyperactive and has experienced hundreds of earthquakes over the past few years. Although major earthquakes occurring in this region do not affect Sri Lanka, except for minor tremors due to distance, a tsunami cannot be ruled out. Not all earthquakes underwater cause a tsunami, but there is definitely a chance that one will cause a tsunami.
Many people still believe that the island of Sri Lanka is quite safe from earthquakes and that, with the exception of minor tremors, nothing like this can happen here. It should be mentioned, however, that in 1615 there was an earthquake in the Colombo area, after which more than 200 deaths were recorded. What does it mean? This only means that the geological conditions are favorable for a moderate sized earthquake to occur in Sri Lanka. So there really is a possibility of an earthquake in Sri Lanka, and it is stupid to exclude such a development of events. Indeed, many people would have laughed if they had been told before 2004 that Sri Lanka would come destructive tsunami. Historical records are often dismissed with contempt. In August 1883, a tsunami already hit Sri Lanka after the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano.
Several other geological options should not be ignored either. According to one scenario, the northern end of the plate on which Sri Lanka sits could slam into the Asian plate with such force that it would trigger a massive earthquake across the entire plate. The stress at the northern end of the plate will be transmitted across the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka may also be affected by this stress transfer. This buildup of stress within the Sri Lankan landmass will also lead to instability and possibly lead to tremors, which would be facilitated by the many fractures and lineaments that cross Sri Lanka.
In general, new earthquakes and tsunamis in Sri Lanka cannot be ruled out. However, since 2004, Sri Lankans have indeed learned some hard lessons and are now better able to warn people of impending disaster, thanks to the National Disaster Management Center and the Bureau of Geological Surveys and Mines.

When going on a trip, you should learn not only about the beauties and attractions of your chosen place, but also about the possible dangers that may await you there. For example, what do you know about tsunami in Thailand?

IN South-East Asia There is no country safer in terms of crime than Thailand. But because of the danger natural conditions she is in the lead. There you can meet both, and. But all these dangers pale in comparison to what lurks in the depths of the oceans – the Pacific and Indian, the waters of which wash the country’s shores. A tsunami in Thailand is considered one of the most likely natural disasters. They are rare, but even once is enough to make you shudder at the mention of them for the rest of your life. The feature film “The Impossible” about the tsunami in Thailand is being produced indelible impression even on the most thick-skinned. The reality was even worse.

Origin of the tsunami

Tsunamis are waves generated by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or large explosions. At enormous speed, they disperse in concentric circles from the site of a natural disaster, and are practically invisible in open waters and great depths. However, when approaching shallow water, these waves begin to slow down and grow, supported by the mass of associated water. Their height can reach several tens of meters. A mountain of water crashes onto the shore and washes away everything in its path.

Are there tsunamis in Thailand? All islands located to the east and south of the coast of this country - Japanese, Philippine, Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, New Guinea and Solomon - are the western branch of the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire. These are volcanic faults with constant seismic activity, which is the root cause of tsunamis.

Several conditions are necessary for their formation. A place for acceleration and a sharp drop in depth towards decrease are required. They arise in places of so-called wave focusing - narrow bays along the axis of the front movement, or in the presence of islands of different sizes, which provoke the occurrence of wave resonance and become sources of secondary oscillations.

In Thailand, such conditions are more consistent with the western coast of the Malacca Peninsula (Andaman Sea). Therefore, a tsunami is most likely in Phuket. The Gulf of Thailand is wide and shallow over a long distance, which is why the seismic wave is dampened.

Why is a tsunami more dangerous than a storm?

Storm waves tens of meters high are not that uncommon on ocean coasts. And they are also capable of causing significant damage, but only in a limited area. Unlike tsunamis, the front of which can reach hundreds and thousands of kilometers - the further from the epicenter, the greater.

They also differ in energy saturation. A storm wave is generated by wind, which captures only the surface layers. Therefore, the mass of the raised water is less than that which is pushed forward by the tsunami coming from the bottom. In addition, the speed of wave propagation also differs. For storms, it does not exceed 100 km/h, and a seismic shock accelerates them to 1000 km/h. Therefore, tsunamis have hundreds of times more kinetic energy, which develops into potential energy when the movement slows down in shallow water and in front of obstacles.

Possessing greater energy, seismic waves are able to penetrate much further into the coast, and they can only be extinguished by objects of similar mass - mountains, hills. Everything else is swept away like trash from a table.

Hurricanes and storms are visible from space and are easy to warn about. A tsunami looks like a light ripple, it is almost invisible. Therefore, her blow is almost always unexpected.

How to escape a tsunami

In most cases, a tsunami is generated by an earthquake whose epicenter is below the ocean floor. Its strength is more than seven on the Richter scale. It feels good. If you are in a danger zone, you need to do the following:

If you feel an earthquake, do not wait for a warning. Collect your things, documents, do not lose sight of your companions.
Try to go as far from the coast as possible, and if this is impossible, then find high place, better of natural origin - a hill, a rock, a mountain, and climb it.
If you are unfamiliar with the area, follow the signs indicating escape routes.
An unusually strong low tide - several hundred meters or even kilometers - is the main sign of an approaching seismic wave.
The first tsunami wave is not the most powerful. The second and third are much more dangerous. So don't leave safe place until the water recedes completely. This usually takes up to 10 hours.

2004 Thailand Tsunami

2004 Thailand Tsunami was a consequence of vertical seismic displacement of the plates of the subcontinents in the area of the so-called Java Trench - this is the western coast of the island of Sumatra. The wave front moved in a wide arc from Banda Aceh to Jakarta towards the island of Sri Lanka. The consequences of the cataclysm were the death of about 300 thousand people in 14 countries (the tsunami reached India and Madagascar) along the shores of the Indian Ocean. The largest number of dead tourists in Thailand occurred in , which took the blow of a wave reflected from the northwestern tip of the island of Sumatra near the city of Banda Aceh (it was completely wiped off the face of the Earth).

Causes of mass deaths from the 2004 tsunami in Thailand

During the tsunami in Thailand in 2004, 8 thousand 500 people died. The main reason for the tragedy was that the island authorities did not assess the danger of a tsunami in Phuket and did not take any measures, even in the presence of clear signs of an impending disaster.

The time interval between the subjectively felt tremors and the arrival of the wave was two hours - from eight to ten in the morning. There was no warning or evacuation of people.
Nobody knew anything. Even the aborigines went to collect fish and other sea life after the water went several hundred meters from the shore. Tourists took selfies until the last moment. These were the first people killed in the tsunami in Thailand.

The film "The Impossible" about the tsunami in Thailand

The film “The Impossible” about the tsunami in Thailand was filmed 8 years later. The basis of the plot is the misadventures of a young family caught in the center of events. The director's drama turned out to be convincing. However, we believe that the artistic value of the painting is higher than its practical value. She cannot teach anything. The film did not reveal the cause of the mass death of people, and only the authorities are to blame for this. Having received a warning from the seismic data analysis center, they did not take any measures to evacuate the population, although there was enough time for this. Perhaps they hoped for “maybe” and were afraid to once again escalate the situation in the country.

The film “The Impossible” leaves a feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness of man before the wrath of Nature. After watching, you may get the impression that it is better to stay at home. No attention is paid to storylines that tell us that the tragedy could have been prevented, as well as how to act correctly in such situations.

Measures taken after the tragedy

The Thai authorities, albeit belatedly, took measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. Buoys have been installed in the Andaman Sea to record high-velocity water flows. All resorts and cities on the coast have a tsunami warning system, evacuation schemes and procedures for the authorities to ensure it have been developed. There are full houses everywhere

Five years ago on December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake of 9.3 magnitude shook the Indian Ocean, causing huge waves that washed over the coasts of 13 countries, leaving behind 230,000 dead. This natural disaster ranked fifth in terms of the number of lost human lives. About 45,000 of the dead were never found. Five years have passed - restoration work is still ongoing - 140,000 houses, 1,700 schools, 3,800 temples and 3,700 km of roads have been built. This issue contains photographs of survivors, recovery efforts, and several before and after photos.

(Total 32 photos)

An Aceh man cries during a prayer for tsunami victims on the fifth anniversary of the 2004 earthquake and tsunami on December 26, 2009 in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Aceh suffered the most as main city The province was closest to the epicenter. The tsunami reached it first and caused about 130,000 deaths. Across 11 countries, 230,000 people died, making it one of the worst disasters in history. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

2. Foreign tourists who chose a beach holiday during the first wave of six waves of the tsunami at Hat Rai Lay beach near Krabi in southern Thailand on December 26, 2004. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

4. a) Five years later, a city resident collects grass for his goats in the same place on December 4, 2009. (REUTERS/Beawiharta)

People pray and release offerings into the ocean during a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami at Ulhi Lheu Beach in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia, December 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Heri Juanda)

12. In this photo taken on December 6, 2009, children perform a traditional dance at an orphanage in the capital of Aceh, Banda Aceh. Of the total tsunami deaths (230,000 people), more than half died in Aceh on the island of Sumatra, leaving at least 5,200 orphans with whom child psychologists worked for a long time. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

15. Thai authorities make a final check of a tsunami buoy at Cape Panwa on Phuket island, southern Thailand, December 1, 2009. Five years after the tsunami devastated the Asian coastline, experts fear a new generation of coastal residents will be ill-prepared to face another huge waves as memories of the tragedy fade. (PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images)

17. Dutch tourist Hans Kuiper photographs the images foreign tourists who wanted to celebrate the New Year at the resort hotel and died as a result of the 2004 tsunami. Photo taken at Bang Muang Cemetery in Phang Nga province north of Phuket in Thailand on December 26, 2009. (REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom)

Tsunami survivor Abhilash Jeyaraj, also known as Child 81, sits on a chair at home waiting to go to school in Kurukkalmadam in Batticaloa district on November 23, 2009. The 2004 tsunami catapulted "Baby 81" to international fame, but the parents of the boy, who was just two months old at the time of the tragedy, say the fame only brought them unhappiness and unwanted attention. A surviving child was found in the wreckage on the coast of Sri Lanka. Soon after, nine pairs of parents came for him, each claiming that the child was theirs. (REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

Red Cross volunteers sit with open umbrellas depicting the faces of smiling orphans left behind by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami at the fifth anniversary of the disaster at the Tsunami Museum in Banda Aceh on December 26, 2009. (REUTERS/Beawiharta)