[SuziQ]

The tourists just don't realize that when those waves get to them, they are STRONG and followed by a whole LOT of water that is going to continue pushing inland. They probably thought the waves would stop at the shore. I'm betting the woman and family did not make it. SAD.

Exactly. Everyone is used to the picture of waves that reach a peak, then break and roll on in. Needless to say, very few expected this to happen.

In Sri Lanka, they just don't GET tsunamis, so most did not realize the warning provided by the water receding as it did. They just thought it was interesting to see all the stuff that was uncovered when the water went out.

We heard on the news that one hotel manager in Thailand knew about this phenomenon, ans when he saw the water going out, went out and got ALL of his hotel patrons off the beach. He saved their lives!

[Thud]

Please tell us more about the Thai hotel manager, and post a URL for a news story if you have one.

Thank you.