This week, twenty years ago, an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia caused a tsunami that killed an estimated 225,000 people. This four-part National Geographic series examines the event almost minute-by-minute, using video from survivors.
The earthquake that started it all was an 8.9 on the Richter scale. It was, at the time, the strongest earthquake in forty years. I’m not aware of any that strong since. The series expertly uses graphics showing the tsunami’s progress to intercut between various coastlines as it spreads across the Indian Ocean. There are stories of survival. Stories of death. And stories of rescue. Most importantly, there are hours of video showing the death and destruction left in the wake of the rising water. What makes the story so fascinating is that the tsunami reached so many coastlines, causing damage and survival stories in various parts of the world at different times: Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and hundreds of tiny islands in between.
The event was so expansive in its reach that most people have only seen snippets of the video footage unearthed here. There is one video that I have seen almost every time there is a story referencing the tsunami. It is a man standing alone on land that used to be underwater and had receded. You can see his confusion. He isn’t running. He is just standing there looking off into the sea, trying to comprehend what is happening. Then, he is washed away in a second, never to be seen again.
Another story told in the series involves a train on the island of Sri Lanka. The train was on the opposite side of the island from where the tsunami first hit. However, the tsunami followed the coastline and made it around the island. The train left the station just minutes before word arrived, warning of the tsunami. There was no way to communicate with the train to give a warning. It was overcrowded. The first wave stopped the train. Surrounded by water, most people remained on board, unsure what to do next. Then, like scenes played out on other coastlines, there was a second wave. This wave knocked the train over. A few people escaped through windows. Of the estimated 1,500 people on the train, only 500 survived. It remains the deadliest train accident in history.
I watched all four episodes in one sitting. I highly recommend the series and the film The Impossible, which dramatizes one family’s attempts to reunite after being separated when the tsunami hit.
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