Sri Lanka. Tsunami 2004 and Threat of Tsunami 2012

If you go to travel Sri Lanka, it is guaranteed to hear about the 2004 tsunami — or feel free to request a refund for the ticket. The consequences of big waves is impossible not to notice. Tsunami thoroughly proyshlosya around the perimeter of the island, taking in the ocean a significant portion of coastal buildings. And if in the vicinity of the migration routes of tourists almost all rebuilt, in many other places abandoned and destroyed houses — do not give to forget the terrible event eight years ago.

December 26, 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean tsunami was the cause, which later was found most deadly natural disaster in history. The exact number of victims is still not established — according to various estimates, it ranges from 225 to 300 thousand people.

The memory of the victims perpetuate numerous memorial buildings:

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This monument is located near the village Peralya in Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Here dev'yatymetrovi wave caught crowded passenger train with 2,000 passengers died about 1700.

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The death trains “Samudra Devi” was the largest in history train disaster:

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At the memorial often stop cars relatives of the victims, among whom were many and tourists.

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However surroundings of the monument became a good place to camp and roadside lively trade:

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If you have not imagined exactly how extended Ocean tsunami, the shemka listed below will fill gaps in knowledge:

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By the way, if long enough zalypaty in hifku, we can see a very interesting fact. It is clearly seen as the wave goes around the coast of Sri Lanka and continues its movement towards the Maldives, whose height above sea level, incidentally, is about 1 m. It seems that the islands are nothing could save them from death, however, and you probably Today there are offers from travel companies with tours to the Maldives to exotic prices. What is the focus? The fact that nature can not only punish but to protect, rather merely treat it respectfully. Maldives is probably the only country in Southeast Asia which at national level shall protect its coral reefs and so they softened the brunt of the waves island barely affected by the tsunami. The airport reopened the next day, even the reception of tourists did not stop. Is that some hotels were closed for repairs and little boxes on the waterfront porozkydalo.

But it all relates to the events of 2004, and our story — a little later. April 11, 2012, while we were sleeping peacefully, off the coast of Sumatra (Indonesia), a new earthquake of magnitude 8.7 points. Almost the same magnitude, same place. Probability of a tsunami was extremely high. In coastal areas of Indonesia and Thailand even evacuation. In general, a lot happened while we slept. At about 12 pm, finally having got to the beach, we noticed that something has changed, first of all — the number of people on the beach. Of particular importance is not given we may again be something particularly sacred holiday. Our friends somewhat explained the essence of what is happening. Taught by bitter experience of 2004, the Sri Lankans have begun to prepare for tsunamis. The impression that they did it pretty quietly, the scale of the tragedy was felt not so we went to the beach to watch the big wave.

Weather, though evil, was very good:

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On the beach there are still traces of morning cricket:

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On the way we saw a few tourists and they hastily collected their dud:

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Many hotels have organized the sending of its guests deep into the island:

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Some still had to get the eleventh route:

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Many residents took initial positions in anticipation of signal evacuation:

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When a tsunami is recorded in the eastern part of the island, the inhabitants of the west coast is still as much as 40 minutes before the arrival of waves. These 40 minutes should be spent with maximum efficiency, hiding inside the island. The main thing — do not overdo it and do not run on the other.

Fortunately, in 2012, everything went smoothly and wave height of 1m seemed as if irony against the background of all the security measures taken. But it is clear that things could turn out not so rosy. As later reported by seismologists, a significant difference between the two earthquakes was as follows. During an earthquake in 2004, the movement of huge masses of water caused vertical jolts the seabed, and in 2012 the horizontal tremors were not carried a so great danger.

In 2004 substantial assistance in restoring the island provided the Germans and Japanese. For this grateful Sri Lankans have done them many commemorative tablets:

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