Tsunami Caught On Camera In Thailand

NBC10.com ^ | 12/27/2004 | nbc10.com

[FReepaholic]

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NBC10.com

Tsunami Caught On Camera In Thailand

Video Shows Tsunami Hitting Beach

POSTED: 2:24 pm EST December 27,

2004

UPDATED: 2:32 pm EST December 27,

2004

Stunning pictures just in from Asia show one of nature's most-feared acts: a tsunami crashing into a beach on Thailand's Phuket Island.

Slideshow: Video Shows Tsunami Hitting Thailand
E-Mail: Send Video To A Friend

FeedRoom
	Tsunami Caught On Camera

The amateur video shows the huge wave hitting Patong Beach.

In the video, the big wave is seen quickly approaching the beach, seemingly out of nowhere.

People can first be heard gasping, then screaming, as the tidal wave moves quickly over the beachhead, by buildings and into town.

The tidal waves were triggered by the world's biggest earthquake in 40 years.

The Thai navy is still scouring the islands in the Andaman Sea today for survivors of this weekend's deadly tsunamis, which slammed into the country's tourist areas such as Phuket Island.

Several hundred tourists have been rescued from Thai islands in the sea, but nearly 800 bodies have been retrieved from stricken areas.

Disaster officials say its not yet known how many foreigners were among the dead although a Thai health ministry official has estimated as many as 80 percent of the dead could be foreign tourists.

Phuket Island is a popular tourist spot after being made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film, "The Beach."

Already its estimated about 130 people died on the island including an American.

Across Asia the death toll from the weekend earthquake and tsunamis is nearing 24,000.

Copyright 2004 by NBC10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Palm trees would be 25-30 feet high... The surge is higher.

[dead]

Finally got the video to work. It was unbelievable.

At first, you think it's just a big wave. But it keeps coming and coming and then you realize that just about everybody near sea level in that shot was ground up by debris or drowned.

And that same scene was repeated in hundreds and hundreds of places all over that part of the world. Horrifying.

[dasboot]

Dumb Q:

What was left of the energy after the wave had traveled as far as Hawaii? Any effects felt on N or S America?

[LibWrangler]

My God, are those boats at the top of those pictures?

[Malsua]

That link works.

Apparently it wasn't exceptionally bad there in Thailand.

While I don't speak Thai, the video didn't sound like it was "narrated" by a native Thai. If you've ever been to Thailand, you understand that their language is alot of "baht, baht, ping, pop, baht, bing bing baht pot, ping pot bing bot." etc.

Still, though, those beach areas were smacked really good.

[SittinYonder]

The thing that was striking to me about the video was when the camera panned back into the city and the water was rushing through the streets and you can even see a truck being swept down a road. My goodness, no wonder it killed thousands of people.

[OldSmaj]

their language is alot of "baht, baht, ping, pop, baht, bing bing baht pot, ping pot bing bot."

Hey, you can't say that on FreeRepublic!

[Rebelbase]

1958 landslide in Lituya Bay, AK caused a 1700' tall Tsunamai.

http://www.extremescience.com/BiggestWave.htm

[oceanview]

still, this video is nothing compared to the Sri Lanka hits being reported - reports of 30 foot waves moving at 50MPH, wiping out everything. this video looks more like a flash flood (as bad as that is), rather then a tsunami.

[eureka!]

bump, with prayers...

[Eagle9]

The mist caused by the wave crashing is deceptive, making the wave appear higher than it really was. What is really stunning is the elevation of the "calm" sea behind the "wave". The entire background of both photos is clearly elevated, in comparison to the land. That background has to come ashore, before it'll return to sea level.

[missyme]

Your right it does look like a flash flood, I saw something similar at Disneyland.

[Rebelbase]

To go along with #28.

[Eagle9]

My God, are those boats at the top of those pictures?

The "wave" is still underwater at that point. Those on board the boats might notice a sudden lift, or maybe not.

[CedarDave]

Or try this link also:

http://nbc10.feedroom.com/iframeset.jsp?ord=580459

[Central Scrutiniser]

For some perspective, I believe I know where that was shot, on the map below, it would be near the Eden Bungalow, at the top part of the map, looking on to the corner of Thaweewong road which is the beach road. Looking south and to the west.

[expatguy]

Posted a link to some amazing high resolution photos from Phuket on my blog - Enjoy!

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[ZGuy]

This link is working quickly (as of right now) :

http://nbc4la.feedroom.com/iframeset.jsp?ord=819276

[Dallas59]

Made a crudy gif from the slide show

[pitinkie]

Where is that video?