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We live in Duri, Indonesia, on the island of Sumatra. Despite our proximity, we didn't feel the earthquake and have not been affected. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loves ones. A sad day indeed...
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Stan is quite right...economic repercussions of this devastation are likely to be severe and protracted...so many dead in Sri Lanka and coastal Tamil Nadu...our prayers are with all those who have/are suffering...
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Hi Tenit,there didn't appear to have been any warning,the company I work for have four yachts,they new nothing and were shocked when I phoned them of the problem,if there was a warning ,it didn't get around.
I'm trying to get some information on Kho Samui,I was told it had been hit,but one Fodorite says it wasn't,when the phones are restored I will phone the island and get first hand information and report. Meanwhile the second wave that everyone was expecting,hasn't occured,Yet. Langkawi was hit, Rebak Marina was destroyed,much equipment damage but no reports of loss of life. |
Sydneyx - For the peace of mind of anybody who has friends and/or relatives on Samui I can confirm that the island was not affected.
The southern peninsula of Thailand & Malaysia acted as a huge breakwater and thus the gulf of Thailand was not affected only the western shore of the peninsula or the area fronting the Andaman sea or the Indian ocean. Sydneyx - for a nautical person you should be able to figure this out! |
Hi Hanuman,have managed to get thro.to Kho Samui and you are absolutely correct,Samui Ok.
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Whew! I just heard from my friend/colleague in BKK-I was quite concerned, as I knew she was out traveling around with her family. It turns out that they decided at the last minute against going to Phuket for the long weekend. However a friend of hers who did go to Phuket is still missing.
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We were in our 22nd floor hotel room in Bangkok when this happened yesterday. The building was really, really rocking, and it kept going on and on. I ran to my daughters' room and told them to get out, but of course they kept saying, "we're not dressed yet". A manager arrived on the floor and said she was checking for damage, so at that point, we all went outside. Lots of guests, especially those from earthquake areas were out there. I couldn't believe how powerful it felt, so knew that somewhere it had sone some damage. My daughter hasn't been able to reach her's Thai friend in the south, so we're still worried
My heart goes out to all affected. |
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www.phuketgazette.net
They have Consul Emergency numbers Does anyone have numbers that cover similar for Maldives/Sri Lanka etc? |
Contrary to earlier CNN bulletins claiming it was totally destroyed, I have read a press release from the Laguna Complex that claims it suffered relatively little damage.
The Laguna Phuket is apparantly fully functional and is still operating. The hotels have electricity and water supplies, and no major destruction to buildings has taken place. The Dusit, which has the widest beach front of the Laguna Hotels, was affected by what our source described as more of a very large swell, than a whole Tsunami such as the one that devastated Patong and other areas of Phuket. The Laguna had 50 rooms in total damaged at its 3 beach front hotels (Laguna Beach Resort, Dusit Laguna and Sheraton Grande). The Dusit taking the brunt due to its wider beachfront The Laguna reports that a small number of guests and staff sustained injuries, but nothing too serious. A major clean up is currently underway, and the beach is expected to re-open Tuesday. (Source:- http://www.asiatraveltips.com/travel...2-Laguna.shtml) The Allamanda and Banyan Tree were relatively unaffected. I have also read reports that the JW Marriott was relatively lightly affected by the Tsunami Hope this comes as good news to anyone who has family and friends working or holidaying at the Laguna Complex at this worrying time. |
It sounds like Railay got off reasonably well. They are updating information sporadically.
www.railay.com |
The Narenthorn Center has set up a website, http://ems.narenthorn.or.th/tsunami/login.php for people wishing to find details of relatives or friends.
The username is: user The password is: password |
My heart goes out to all the people affected by this natural disaster.
-Sharon |
Hi Orgy 7- I heard the news immediately. I'm in Ghana, West Africa right now and the BBC World News has been covering the events since the very beginning and yesterday it was on non-stop.Earthquakes are not a pleasant experience. I have lived in an earthquake state for nearly 45 years and have been though many. There's nothing worse than the ground moving...and it's so unfortunate that all those people near the ocean were either injured or killed. But thank goodness it didn't hit underground instead of under the ocean because a 9.0 would have flattened everything. Got to go. It's 25 cents a minute to type this message. Take care and Happy Travels!
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For those interested, but a host of charities is currently accepting donations - Canadian Red Cross, for one.
God bless. |
The "but" in my previous post was a typo, sorry!
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I spent 5 of the best nights of our trip last March at the Mom Tris hotel.We made friends with the staff as we spent day after day on the Dinner Deck and beach.Has anybody heard about the Mom Tris? It must have been breakfast hour when the wave hit.I pray for the people there.
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Everyone here in the UK is horrified to hear about this latest disaster. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those poor souls.
Is there any news about how badly hit Penang in Malaysia was? We are not getting much news about that area. It seems this year it has been one natural disaster after another, it's as if nature itself has gone mad. God protect you all. CM |
I have nothing to add except thoughts and prayers for all who were involved. A special prayer for any of our Fodorites who either live there or have been travelling in the affected areas.
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My heart and thoughts go out to all those affected by this. In today's newspaper was a list of organizations accepting donations. Concerns now for unsafe living/sanitation conditions for the survivors.
American Jewish World Service 45 West 36th St., 10th floor New York, NY 10018 (800) 889-7146 http://www.ajws.org American Red Cross International Response Fund PO Box 37243 Washington, DC 20013 (800) HELP NOW http://www.redcross.org Catholic Relief Services PO Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090 (800) 736-3467 http://www.catholicrelief.org Direct Relief International 27 South La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93117 (805) 964-4767 http://www.directrelief.org Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres PO Box 2247 New York, NY 10116-2247 (888) 392-0392 http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org International Medical Corps 11500 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 506 Los Angeles, CA 90064 (800) 481-4462 http://www.imcworldwide.org International Orthodox Christian Charities Middle East Crisis Response PO Box 630225 Baltimore, MD 21263-0225 (877) 803-4622 http://www.iocc.org Operation USA 8320 Melrose Avenue, Ste. 200 Los Angeles, CA 90069 (800) 678-7255 http://www.opusa.org |
Thank you so much for the links posted by sandi and CFW!
The tour operator I work for has many customers currently in Phuket and has not been able to reach/identify all of them yet. Perhaps this will help. Thanks again, Andre |
Latest on Local Thai TV:- The Thai Authorities have swung into impressive action, food, water, clothing all being provided, medical assistance is active and plentyful suppies and large amounts of supplies have moved by road and air, those without money / cards have been told not to worry at all as food, clothing etc available, those leaving without funds being carried by air without charge, cellphone services free and internet free from those areas. Large presence of Consular staff of many nations all in Phuket with others in surrounding areas. Huge donations of food etc from Thai businesses. I have many friends in the area, thankfully all safe. The biggest 'gift' anyone can give Thailand, Sri lanka, Maldives and India is 'please' don't cancel your plans. Obviously if your planned hotel is damaged or there is a lack of services/infastructure in those hard hit areas that is different but you can still come to areas that have not been affected in any way. Although a huge tragedy a worse one is for tourists not to come to unaffected areas because of it. |
$10 million in aid announced by Australia's Foreign Minister - this will increase. Two more Hercules just left Australia for Indonesia laden with medical supplies. Six Australians confirmed dead in Phuket, including a local (to me) Cairns teacher, grave fears for another 11 missing in various affected areas and many hospitalised.
Please heed JamesA advice and don't boycott unaffected areas - the people are in enough strife - keep thinking of the suffereing of Balinese people after bombing. |
This is the best link I have found to get general updates of different resorts in the area.
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To citiboy50:
I, too, have spent time at Mom Tri's Boathouse, and also at the Mom Tri's Villa Royale property. DH and I are both very concerned about what has happened to those lovely people who work there. We think maybe Villa Royale might be "OK" as it sits higher off the ground than the Boathouse. This whole thing is so tragic! Our prayers go out to those in harm's way. |
Thais in general may have some silly quirks, but seriously, they are a VERRY Generous people and when the going gets tough they work extreamly effectivly and efficiently.. So the reports on how Thailand is dealing verry well with the disaster is NOT surprising..
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The Tsunami toll is now over 24,000, reported in Australia and that doesn't count the African deaths reported on "Deutsche Welle" (German) TV news here this morning. Impossible not to dominate our thinking at the moment.
I'm still going to Thailand after our USA trip in April, and like PatW, would encourage others to do so too, to help the Thai economy recover, and to let the people there know we support them. There is a direct aid link at www.redcross.org.au |
STANKASE--- your group may have drivin me "nuts" before form previouse threads, but they sure are a geneous and kind hearted people.
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MORE than 40,000 people are dead
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I haven't seen very much footage of the tsunami on the news as I've been away from the TV. However, I found this link that has some lengthy video.
http://jlgolson.blogspot.com/2004/12/tsunami-video.html |
What a terrible tragedy. As for now 77,000 people are dead
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My heart goes out to everybody involved in this terrible tragedy. I hope every Fodorite comes home.
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BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) - Tens of thousands of residents fled coasts in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand after warnings of possible new tsunamis Thursday, and pilots in Indonesia dropped food to cliff-rimmed villages yet to be visited by outsiders four days after the disaster. The Red Cross feared the death toll would surpass 100,000.
India issued a tsunami warning at midday Thursday following aftershocks in the Indian Ocean region, prompting tens of thousands to flee the southeastern coast. Hours later, no waves had arrived and the warning appeared to have been false. Surveys of the swath of tropical Asia struck by Sunday's 9.0 earthquake and tsunamis were gaining ground, with relief workers still uncovering scenes of flattened villages and survivors living on coconuts. The death toll topped 84,000, with Indonesia worst affected, followed by Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. With tens of thousands still missing, that number was almost certain to grow, amid fears that disease could bring a new wave of deaths. |
The death toll is now over 120 000 and rising.
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Any word on the boathouse on Kata Beach.My heart breaks when I watch CNN. It feels good to donate on line.My prayers go out to all.We were planning to go to Hawaii in March. We are considering changing to Thailand. The Thai economy can use it-just like NYC after 9/11.
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good for you, citiboy! Go to Thailand!
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cityboy -- here is a link to current hotel status. as you can see mom's boathouse did not fare too well. however, there are many places that are ok as you can see (along with photos and statements being posted by hotels that they are open and to please come)! we will be there end of feb. hope you consider it as well!
ttp://www.sawadee.com/tsunami/hotels.htm |
Citiboy,
I got an email from the Boathouse just yesterday. Maybe you got one also?? if you have stayed there before? Anyway, everyone is safe. The Boathouse did suffer some damage on the first floor, mostly the restaurant. The Villa Royale was not damaged at all as it sits on higher ground just up the hill from the main Boathouse. The email asked that if you have plans to come to Phuket, please come and stay with the Boathouse again. It was great to hear from them and to know that everyone is safe! Carol |
I am somewhat relieved regarding the Boathouse.Lets hope for other semi good news from the area.
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