Tsunami in Phuket

Tsunami in Phuket: the history and possibility of a new catastrophe

Thailand is a real paradise on earth, but even here tragedies can happen. Phuket was hit by a tsunami in 2004 and this unexpected catastrophe caused thousands of deaths. Nobody was prepared for such catastrophe, therefore the number of victims and destructions was huge. In order not to frighten you, let us say that the probability of repeating such a tragedy in the coming years is very small. In our article we will tell which beaches of Phuket suffered from tsunami, what is the possibility of a new one and what precautions to take.

What is a tsunami?

A tsunami is a huge ocean wave that crashes to the ground and destroys everything in its way. Tsunami is often compared with a storm, but in fact this natural phenomenon is much worse. During a storm, waves only of the upper layers of the ocean hit the shore. During a tsunami, the entire water of the ocean falls on the shore. One wave of tsunami is thousands kilometers wide, so it hits the entire coast. A tsunami can destroy the continental part of land greatly and can cause technogenic catastrophe.

The tsunami was caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. A strong undersea tremor caused the movement of a huge water mass to the shores of Asian countries. Such countries as Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand were badly hit, as they were closest to the earthquake. It is interesting that the African countries, the Maldives, the Seychelles, which were much further from the earthquake epicenter, also suffered.

Phi Phi Islands, Krabi and Phuket were also damaged. Tsunami caused damage to almost all the major beaches such as Patong, Karon, Kamala, and Kata beach. Based on these tragic events, the film The Impossible tells about the destructive power of the tsunami and how helpless people suffered from it.

How to save yourself from tsunami?

Remember that a tsunami is caused by a powerful ocean earthquake. So if you feel tremors, you should collect all the necessary things and leave the dangerous territory, warning as many people as possible about the danger. You need to move as far as possible from the coastline or climb a hill. There should be an evacuation scheme in such potentially dangerous areas, which will show you the right direction.

Strong ebbs also predict tsunami. Vacationers may put their lives at risk by staying on the shore and even collecting fish that did not swim with the water. So if you notice sudden changes in the water level, immediately call the alarm.

The animal’s natural instinct to flee the sea can also predict the disaster.

Do not forget that a tsunami can have several waves and the next waves can be much more dangerous and more powerful than the first. Therefore, even if one wave has already departed, do not leave the shelter and wait a while.

After such disaster in 2004, the Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters was founded in Thailand. Employees of the centre are constantly monitoring seismic activity and its changes. Therefore, while staying in Thailand, do not ignore the news of local media and Internet portals.

Considering that the tsunami waves are moving with high speed, so you will have very little time to evacuate.

Of course, wherever a person goes, he can face various dangers, so it is better to be aware in advance. But such a natural disaster like a tsunami happens very rarely, so you shouldn’t seriously fear it during your holiday in Phuket.