Posted on 12/29/2004 8:13:44 AM PST by crushelits
Sri Lanka: Train Wreck Adds to Toll
GALLE, Sri Lanka, Dec. 28 -- The tsunami on Sunday devastated a train that had come to a halt on the outskirts of the tiny Sri Lankan village of Hikkaduwa, as massive waves slammed into a dozen carriages, hurling them across the countryside into coconut groves, fields and flimsy huts, authorities said Tuesday.
With 802 bodies already retrieved from the train's cars and the muck beneath them, the wreck appears to have been the single most destructive incident discovered so far in Sri Lanka. Two days after the disaster, authorities were still pulling bodies from the twisted wreckage of the carriages, some of which ended up half a mile from the railroad tracks.
One thousand tickets were sold in Colombo for the Queen of the Sea, which was bound for the port city of Galle, 70 miles away, Brig. Daya Ratnayake, a military spokesman, told the Associated Press.
"There were very few survivors," Gunasena Hewavitharana, the chief government representative in Galle, said after touring the accident site by helicopter, the only means of access. In addition to directing relief efforts in Galle, Hewavitharana is also looking for his sister and niece who were on board the 7:15 a.m. express when it derailed 12 miles west of here.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I saw this train engine on t.v. Not only was the engine flipped over, the entire railroad track itself, rails and timber supports, was simply lifted from its bed and flipped over as well.
OMG.
Unbelievable.
Two days after and I think the numbers, 100,000 are low. In some areas nobody survived to report the extent of the tragedy so this information has yet to be included. 250,000 when all is over would be my guess.
Ping for later (Very Sad)
OMG...
And yesterday freepers were having a great time making jokes about this. I always think folks here have more sense than that--until I stumble across a thread like that one.
People made jokes? Do you have a link?
So sad.
Devastating.
No. Me neither. The magnitude of loss and suffering is beyond anything I've ever witnessed.
That would be unforgiveable. Totally unforgiveable. How could anyone even think about a joke.
There are also some good posts on that thread, but frankly, the jokes fell flat for me.
Sadly, I agree, and that is probably a good number before the impact of hunger and disease sets in. With those considerations, it could double or more.
How can you explain that, when we see such devastation?
How high were those waves? in Phuket I read they were 16 feet?
Reality is stark, ain't it...
May God have mercy on their souls.
OMG. Unbelievable. Unfathomable. So sad. All sentiments stated here but still its an indescribable disaster. Prayers for all.
People were making Phuket jokes and stuff. Idiots.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
