Tsunamis hit south India; over 1,800 dead

rediff.com ^ | Last Updated: December 26, 2004 22:17 IST

[El Gato]

Then again, if you were around to videotape it, you probably didn't survive it.

In the open ocean, where the waves would not be as high, you probably would, if your ship's captain responded quickly and correctly to the oncoming wave. You might also survive if you were on a cliff or mountain back a little way from the shore.

[El Gato]

You do have to wonder if a sea wall couldn't be built, however, or that they relocate living quarters to hills nearby, and only go to work down in the dangerous lowlands?

The Japanese have built such structures, complete with large movable "doors". They remind one of medieval castles and other fortifications. IIRC, the first time they needed one, the water came *over* the top their wall, but of course not as much as would have gotten in had there been no wall at all.

[sevry]

came *over* the top their wall,

After seeing a few film clips from those there at the time, this appears not to have been a tidal wave, but a sea surge, a sudden and exaggerated tide. The water suddenly rose 10-15 feet, and apparently without much warning. Earthquake, then apparently within minutes, the sea level just started to rise. If you were floating on an inner tube, you would notice the beach starting to disappear, then the road above it. People were caught unprepared.

There apparently was safe high ground in many places. But the problem seems to have been that people just had no warning. No sirens. No broadcasts. This came in so fast after the quake, that people were swimming or drowning before they knew what was happening.

To merely call it a tragedy, is trite. With a large wave, perhaps a wave break would literally help break it. But this was a quick extra-high tide. They would have needed a sort of tilt wall, costing probably something like the national budget, and the tide still would have poured over - just would have given them a few minutes more warning for all that. I don't know WHAT they could have done to save themselves, again save for confining residences and hotels to high ground. But if these are tourist spots, they won't do that. Maybe they could artifically build up some mounds. Again . .