Tsunami video and pictures from Kata Beach Phuket

[me0ha0ha]

Thank you for this video! I went to Thailand about 2 years ago and stayed at Kata Palms beach resort so i can understand this perfectly with locations etc.. i cant believe how bad it was and how well they fixed everything up, it was so idillyc when i was there... we met a local called Lee who worked in the markets and she told us her story of the Tsunami.. i had to hug her, she was lovely!

[iceestarzs]

thank you for posting  this .

[iMichaelanimations]

well there was a tsunami in japan on march 10 2011... it was WAY worser than the one you took... about 1,300 people died... please everybody pray for japan. PLEASE!

[bubble81]

ive been on kata beach last week! cannot imagine what i see here!

[delrksmw2]

OH MY GOD!!!

[shannonrenne]

why try build when next time more people will be killed...

[bcgoldminer]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Hope your dreams are much better now.

Take care.

[trazer911]

this footage is good enough to understand .... how tsunami work thnk you so much for sharing good bless u all.....i just wonder how does it feel being right there watching this horrific wave and maybe watching people holding on to thier live's

[lelleholm]

It felt like a bad bad dream.

[greenturdtea]

Wow!!! This is great video footage of what occurred....It's very sad that some of the people out by the shoreline didn't make it. Thank you for sharing. I'm glad that you and all your friends and family survived.

[iamtimwhoareu]

well told and thank u for sharing, my dad lived between Kata market and the beach and was there that day. he is still there to this day thankfully. i came down 6 months later for my first trip to thailand. its a day never to be forgotten. and the resilience of the Thai people is amazing.

[5emtio4yra]

Bra jobbat,

Jag har bott i Thailand i ett år, jag var stammis på Kata Mama och kände alla där ;)

[Shelinaaa]

where did you make this video? its really good!!

[philaod]

Thank you for this very moveing video i love kata and karon beach have good friends their still now it makes me sad what happend that day bless you and good luck.

[lizlabbdora3000]

hola soy de venezuela,tambien vivimos una trajedia en vargas,pero no entiendo porque hay gente que aun no saben que cuando se recoge el mar ES PORQUE VIENE UN TSUNAMI,y puede estar el cielo despejado,si hubiese sido un huracan hubiese evacuacion.pero el tsunami,el mar avisa cuando se recoge.y la gente se quedo viendo asi no mas que le paso al mar cuando se recogio.he visto hasta comiquitas chinas que es asi y hay que buscar lo mas pronto posible alturas de terrenos.tienes una oportunidad mas.

[tacoliqour]

Hola, soy de los Estados Unidos. No hablo el espaniol muy bien pero me gustara preguntar le unas cosas de su paiz. Escribe me para tras si tienes tiempo. Gracias.

[lizlabbdora3000]

hola soy yo otra vez.que quieres saber de mi pais,pero por favor que no sea de politica.

[tacoliqour]

Perdon si se olle politica. Domas queria saber si la jente alla viven libre y feliz. No le creo mucho a las noticias cuando dicen que cosas estan malo alla.

[xmalvadox]

amigo yo tambien soy venezolano tambien puedo orientarte o responderle cosas de haca de venezuela si usted quiere...... I also am a Venezuelan friend also can guide you or answer things haca of Venezuela if you want

[jazztronik]

Distressing situation. So sad about the consequences. But happy to see that those people from the restaurants you mention got over it just about a month later.

[bilalforu1]

thats gr8 yaar

[whizzkid27]

I didn't learn much at school but I know a lot about Tsunamis. I wudda been up onto high ground like a shot. Hopefully now people are better educated about them and next time there will be much less casualties

[RnBramwell]

You're the 1st person among all the YouTube and news media I have looked at who has properly noted the ebbing of the water before the tsunami.

Well done!

Tidal oscillations are only ~ 1.5m in Thailand &, of course, take 6 HOURS for 1/4 cycle (inwards or outwards) to occur.

People don't read enough books. For forty-five years since reading about Polynesians climbing palm trees to escape tsunamis, I've known an odd, non-tidal, ebbing of ocean water means a tsunami is <5 mins away.

[yohannes80]

i dont get it!

i would`ve run like hell when the water got back that far.

there are so many ways you couldve learned about the behaving and dangers of water...

you just have to have lived and played as a kid at a river to learn that the water pulls back before a big wave comes after a ship passed....

[lelleholm]

I agree and if i had not been there i would propably say what you are saying.

But when it happened the sun was shining, the beach was beautiful, people were playing in the water and it was not supposed to happen so all the logic was turned off.

[yohannes80]

maybe your right that this was the reason for some people. but what about the natives? was just a normal day for them, wasnt it?

but after all, if you say it like that, its the old fatal thinking: "it wont happen to me!"

you dont have to live in fear, most things wont, but its not a bad idea NOT to turn logic off, even at the most innocent day!

anyway, im glad you survived!!!!!!

[Tonxoo7]

@RnBramwell I completely agree! Why is this ebbing of the tide not made more public! I live in Japan where the word tsunami comes from and I`ve never heard about this phenomena!

[RnBramwell]

@Tonxoo7 Really?! It's not know.n, in Japan of all places!!? So much for modern education.

The length of time & degree of the 'drawback' probably varies with the slope of the ocean floor & such features as bays & weirs (see "Japan Incoming Tsunami.New video!!!" at 43 secs). Ordinary large, wind driven waves don't cause the same shoreline drawback. One might see wind waves coming, as in Hawaii, but they lack the deep tsunami power. The "drawback" is an urgent, warning: "Run & Climb, NOW!"

[5emtio4yra]

Wow, i lived in thailand 2007-2008 and i knew all the people on that resturant, Kata Mama. Great work with the vid.

[shekharbopardikar]

Horrible event picturised  to understand the gravity.

Hope the same will never happen again.

Excellent Video!!

[amoeba27]

I will never forget the day this happened - we were on holiday in Portugal and I spent all day glued to the tv thinking about friends we ahd made in phuket in this area, and wondering if they survived or not. You were so lucky you had a hill to run up. I´ve watched similar videos on phi phi island and it was amazing as there were no waves at all - just a rush of water. Such a tragedy for mankind.

[Barremlol]

Where's Aquaman when you need him?

[kapacon]

300,000 souls..............in an instant. We must not be as important as we think we are.

[redslownight]

300,000 people didnt die in a instant -.-

[cutedog2001]

i saw the tide go back too

and then i ran too

but i didnt get hurt

[DEVILDAY666]

question 1) the sail boats did they surive?

question 2) how far was the hill away fom you?

question 3) dont Tsunami come in a giant wave

[lelleholm]

1: Boats on open water (deep water) only felt the tsunami like a stong current or not at all but boats on shallow water tipped over or went with the wave.

2:Only around 50 meters from the restaurante.

3: First the water went down quite quickly. Then it came up very quickly followed by the first wave.

[DEVILDAY666]

last question how many people died?

[lelleholm]

Around 300 000

[worldtraveler07]

I was boogey boarding in that water 2 months to the day before the Tsunami. What a scary day it must have been to have been there. Reminds me of a buddy of mine who has had two close calls. He had lunch at Windows of the World at the top of the WTC on September 10th 2001. Also he was at the bar in Bali one week before terrorists set off bombs there. ....cherish every day ......... :)

[longboardjeff]

Nice job. Such a tragedy, but you presented the story to us very tastefully. I've never been there but it looks like it truly is a piece of paradise. Thank you for posting this.

[chi2nasrin]

went to Koh Lipeh Island and had a terible boat ride where the wave was at head level high. We were inside a long tail boat that was not fit to fight that kind of wave. My hole life flashed in front of me man. Now watching this video made me even scare to go to Thailand's island... pity...

[Margaretdl121]

Video and Story very well done. That Ericsson Cell Phone has a good video camera. Never the less, your story was well told.

[perryton]

Idude893, u should have thank ur mom first for saving ur lives. If she didn't suggested to take u guys to Australia, u would be dead.

Sometimes a woman's intuition is very accurate. For some unknown reason. :)

[surfing636]

Good job with this video, everyone can learn from it, the story you told. All videos I've seen, most people walk down where the ocean was, drawn in by that event. Now we know, gather everyone (and yell for people in the water) to head to high ground. In this modern internet-connected world, maybe these videos will help save future lives!

[longonibruno]

About the Ocean:

In 1974 it happend the same thing when I was at the seaside (Italy).

I was told it was becouse of the moon.

I'm afraid that sometimes it's not easy to understand what's happening....

Anyway lelleholm did a very good work.

[chiwawa140]

its so sad. =***^(

[rkingsiv]

Its a common mistake for people to run to the beaches when the water withdraws. If the ocean recedes then head in the opposite direction!

[nimrod74741]

i'm going back in may also :)

i only just returned on the 19th jan after 2 months too

LOL

love the place SO much

[sickoizm]

have a wicked time dude .party on .PEACE.

[nimrod74741]

man :(

i wonder if that poor girl at 01:47 survived :(

who knows

mad video

[saintdolly]

Fantastic video! I have been to Kata beach many times and that video made the hairs on my neck stand up.

R.I.P.

[Idude893]

We always went to Phuket, Thailand for holidays. It was December, and we decided to go there again, but mom decided to take us to Australia, which was a pretty good place.

We arrived at Sydney, Australia on Christmas Eve. Two days later, we recieved word that something terrible happened in the coasts of the Indian Ocean. Phuket was affected heavily by it.

We were so close to getting a near death experience, and thank god for Australia.

[lyssi229]

Yes its awfull!!!

I was in Phuket just yesterday also at

Kata Beach in the Kata Beach Resort and Spa but they built it really nice !!

[funkyalfonso]

Oral tradition of the local sea gypsies explains why they survived. They knew what was coming. RIP to those poor people who did'nt.

[RichardAllanSteele]

My family and I were at the other end of Kata Beach that day, at Peach Hill Hotel. I was down there looking for people between waves. Thanks for the video.

[Mennotheman]

Im going to Kata Beach next friday, hope it dosnt happen again :O

[sistochris]

I'm waiting out a hurricane, so I started looking at these tsunami videos. Thank you for explaining what happened better than the other videos I have watched. I just keep thinking one thing: It's the day after Christmas at a great resort. Surely, there had to be some scientist types on vacation. I don't understand why just one single person didn't get what was happening and alarm everybody. Why didn't people question the weirdness going on??? Sorry for so many lives gone in an instant.

[Haakcha]

This is a heartrending video. Give thanks you are alive and here to tell the tale.

Prayers for all those poor people who died or were injured.

[louisp187]

unfortunately on that day my girlfriend, and family where on the beach.

This is the first time i have been able to watch a video of what happened, and i appreciate the video.

Makes me realise the terror she must have gone through.

Unfortunately, she did not come back alive.

Thankfully her family survived.

Cheers for the video, it has got some emotions out for me.

:)

[viasaturn]

@louisp187 ei.. i'm very sorry for what happened to your girlfriend...

[LancelotLink100]

@louisp187 By chance, I searched on 'tsunami' today based on the large earthquake that struck New Zealand (9/3/2010).

I found this video and your message.

I am very sorry for your loss. I lost a close friend on 9/11 on Flight 93 (he became one of the heroes who brought the plane down), and I am sure I felt similar things to what you felt, although yours is much worse.

Again, I am very sorry for your loss. Good luck to you.

[rieygoodieguy]

@louisp187 sad

[viruzzfx]

And you still didn't understood what was going on? First the water disapear and next came a giant wave... Thay's a tsunami... Everybody knows that. I'm from a country that as city already devastated by a tsunami in 1755. That´s one thing that we all learn in school... if sudently the sea disapears, run for your live. It's sad to see all those people having fun without knowing what kind of danger is aproaching.

[lelleholm]

"Everybody knows that", yea right... And where i was we did not see any wave at all, the water just became higher and higher and higher and higher...

If one person on every beach had known about disappearing water, thousands of lives would have been saved.

In my opinion it's to much focus on the wave in the media because when it comes it might be too late. Every article or programme should end with a big "Don't forget"

So remember, if the water goes down fast, you better go up, faster!

[pixiecherries]

We grew up on a little island in Alaska and knew about tsunamis and were warned not to chase after the sea. But if you don't know it's so tempting to go down to the beach. I'm sorry this happened to you and for all the loss of life. Thank you for sharing such a personal accout and showing the restoration and hope in spite of the tragedy.

[Pickinbuddy]

Thank you for your detailed eye-witness account...there are so many intricate details the media always leaves out. My prayers are for the victims and their families...

[VertiginousVersatile]

it'd be a preciouse experience for you.

[upsilone]

if waves become bigger, they will be slower than usual, not faster

[RMSAquitania]

I cannot thank you enough for sharing this and giving the most detailed description I've seen yet. You described the timing, which is never highlighted in the media, and the three waves that I never knew existed. This gives us all an understanding of the time leading up to, during and after the tsunami. Good luck and keep counting your blessings.

[TRASUPO]

I like the way you descibed this disater that took so many lives that day, in every other clip there's no explanation of what was happening now l know and thankyou for sharing this truly amazing feat of nature.

[kituro]

Mycket bra video!

[123barca]

man , you are very lucky, i have been studying this tsunami for a while, in some parts, it reached 20 feet.

your a good photographer for that kind of stiuation.

hey, now you know.

[NemeanLion]

Maybe the most complete picture/video experience of the disaster from one single person. Thanks for sharing it. The rebuilding and life returning to the site at the end was a nice touch.

[bigjohnjack0]

best you go buy ya self a lottery ticket, best of british to ya

[sillysyl18]

Thank you for sharing, I know at times it must be difficult (the memory of the experience). Wow! Amazing!... Nature is literally breathtaking! You are truly blessed to have witnessed both beauty and ruin, by the hands of nature -

[Gitsie007]

Wow, that is amazing. The water receded so far out and then it came in, flooding everything. I'm glad you are okay.

[Hravn]

Jeg klarer ikke å fatte hvilket sjokk det må ha vært....... Du er heldig som ikke mistet noen i denne forferdelige tragedien.

[PivotAL6]

Amazing! howd they servive with a camera in there hand?

[lelleholm]

As you see, there are no pictures when the water is "attacking", there was no time for thinking about anything else then to run or swim. After the "attacks" we looked for people left inside buildings but when all was clear, the camera came out again. /L

[madgirl2007]

:o i am so stunned, and just always pray to god and thank him your alive!

[Xargxes]

incredible nice, and incredible lucky :) can I ask you if you're swedish? Because i am danish, and some friends i know went there to :)

[lelleholm]

Hello

Oh yes, i am a lucky Swede!

[Florerfly]

water going veeeeeery down is not a very good signal... :( Great that you survived... you were born again, lucky you :)

[Monjenice]

Congratulations This is the most amazing video and pics that I have ever seen.

[totodeoz]

mas fome tu wea de video

[raynhughes]

this is absolutely amazing pictures/video! this shows how the wave came from literaly nowhere!