The first wave rolled in slow. Aug 15, 2005

August 15, 2005

The first wave rolled in slow.

It did a great deal of low-land flooding, but that was about all. When the first wave receded, it created the craziest low tide the locals have ever seen. A few took it as a warning and headed for higher ground but many more were entranced by the newly exposed ocean floor, more than 1/2 mile (over a kilometer) in places.

Villagers including fishermen, women and children went out to explore this unprecedented act of nature. No one had ever even heard of this before. Fish were flopping everywhere, free for the taking!

What they did not know, (and how could they?), was that the great absence of sea was the vacuum caused by the next wave about to come in. Some say it was 30 or more meters high, about the size of a 4 story building. It completely pulverized the coast. Nothing breathing nor man-made withstood the pounding.
Many of those not sucked out to sea sought refuge on the remaining rooftops or in trains. The 3rd and final wave showed no mercy. Close to 1000 people died on one train alone.

On the Eastern Coast most who survived in the zone had scrambled to elevation after the first wave.

Now 8 months later (December 26, 2004), I am told much of the eastern coast is still in ruins. The people are in a quandary. The government has the money thanks to foreign governments, but will only rebuild 100 meters from the sea. So those who only own property closer to 100 meters have no land to build on. They are left living in tents or wooden shacks until the bureaucracy is worked out. Some of the real "smart ones" quickly threw up fences and secretly rebuilt their houses outside of governmental approval. Of course without an early warning system they are still very much in harms way.

I have only ventured to the coastal southwest. Here there are very few telltale signs of destruction. A few piles of bricks here, some abandoned railway ties there, other than the photos proudly displayed in restaurants, homes and businesses showing the before and after rebuild, you would never guess the disaster had reached this far. The scars have been cosmetically filled but it will take the Sri Lankans years to recover  from the emotional and financial losses.

http://www.sciaf.org.uk

If you have the inclination, I would highly encourage a trip to this friendly and beautiful country...they could use the support and most of you could probably use a vacation! Besides its now one of the ONLY countries that doesn't hate "America"! (Reminder, this was written during a prior administration...)

xxpaul