Tsunami originates in the ocean after an underwater volcanic eruption or an earthquake. There are tsunamis caused by other factors, like sliding of a giant mountain or icebergs into the sea. Phuket lies in a high risk zone because many underwater volcanoes nearly on the north shores of Sumatra are active on the joint of two tectonic plates, Australian and Eurasian. Over 230 thousand of people died as a result of a tsunami wave in December 2004. Waves reached 30m high in some places. In all XX century there were only two strongest earthquakes. It is estimated that the energy liberated during this catastrophe was 370 times bigger than the entire energy used in 2005 by the USA. The wave reached the shore of Indonesia 15 minutes after the event, and 7 hours later the African shores in Somali. The wave strike was noticed in Canada also, on the other side of the world. Over 5 thousand people has died in Thailand, more than 10 thousand were wound, disappeared or in other way were touched directly by the tsunami.
The towns destroyed the most by the first wave were Kamala, Patong Beach, Kata and Karon. Pictures and videos from those hours present total disaster; the whole cities become ruined, Patong Beach hotel including. Today there’s almost no one visible sign of this tragedy. Houses and infrastructure were rebuilt very quickly. Only a monument near Kamala commemorates the catastrophe. The official data tells about 290 deaths only, but this data doesn’t reflect the number of the Burmese workers working illegally in the construction businesses on the shore. Their names remain unknown; some sources mention that it were hundreds, maybe thousands of people. During the strike they worked on the beaches.
A special system constructed in the cooperation with the USA exists today on the Andaman Sea. The system consists of 200 stations which send signals of coming tsunami wave by the satellite. However information from English sources about the technical state of this system is ambiguous. The problem is that Americans have installed the system, and Thai were supposed to maintain its functionality. Some Thai officials say that only 5% of these stations are efficient probably, other sources say about 100%. It is difficult to give responsible information about the technical state of the system because of the lack of free media. If you have bought a Phuket last minute holidays keep in mind that one day you can be in the dramatic situation. In swimwear or not run as fast as one’s legs will carry one in the direction of the nearest mountain. It can be the only chance to save life.