More on the tsunami

I spoke with this man, Promoth, while I was in Khao Lak. He told me that he is a fisherman, but was not out on the water when the tsunami came (actually, most those who WERE on the water were able to ride it out OK). He was near the sea shore and saw the water rushing out and then the wave approaching. He ran as far as he could and then climbed a tree and wrapped his arms around the branches. He said the water tried to pull him away, but he managed to hold on until it went back down. His two children fled to higher ground and were safe, but communication was cut off, so for two days he thought they were dead.

These two boats ended up something over a half mile inland and are maintained there as a sort of memorial. The first is nicknamed the 'demon boat,' because as it was swept in, it crashed into several small buildings and destroyed them, and it crushed several people. The locals claim this boat killed nearly a hundred people on its way to its final resting place.