The Indian Ocean Tsunami and Earthquake

The Impossible was a movie based on what is possibly the deadliest tsunami in history. It

centers around one family's story of hope and survival during, and in the aftermath of the 2004

Indian Ocean Tsunami. In the movie, there was no sign that an earthquake had happened, or that

a tsunami was in its way. People were caught by surprise, because there was no warning

systems in place. Witnesses say that the ocean near the beach suddenly and rapidly began to

recede an unusual distance, exposing sea floor never before seen. A few people recognized this

as a warning of the danger to come and were able to escape to higher ground. Moments before

the wave struck, a sudden wind started blowing simple things away, and animals on the earth

and in the sky, sensing that something was wrong, were seen fleeing inland.

Witnesses said that the approaching tsunami sounded like three freight trains or the roar

of a jet. A terrifying noise that scared and paralyzed many who were in that situation. With the

noise everyone turned to see and encounter the waves coming and destroying everything.

The wave itself was only about 50 cm high in the open ocean, but it was extremely long -

traveling at up to 800 km/h about the same speed as a jet airliner. As it entered shallower water

near coastlines, it started to slow and build. Waves got up to 15 meters when it hit the coastline.

The distance the waves travelled inland was up to 2000 meters. The reason the waves were so

devastating, is that much of the coast affected was very low lying, so the water could continue to

travel inland, wrecking everything in its path.

 The director did a great job showing the destruction caused with the force of the waves

carrying debris, cars and everything in front of it. It is impossible to run from it. If caught by it,

the chance of survival is minimum, because the cuts, hits and pressing against walls or against

other big objects. There is no survival without injuries.

It was clear during the movie, to see how precarious the situation was for the people

caught by this tsunami. Besides been lost, separated from loved ones, and being surrounded by

devastation, there was no clean water or food available. The cuts and injuries suffered by many,

were in danger of becoming infected by the contaminated water, full of corpses and dead

animals, mosquitoes and more.

This movie did a good job of showing the magnitude of this natural disaster and the scale

of suffering the people had to endure. It also prompted the sympathy, support and assistance

given from strangers to the victims. The hospital were short in personal, and short in

commodities, but they did their best with what they had in a situation like this. The locals didnt

wait around for outside help to arrive, instead, they did go far and abroad, looking for ways they

could be of help, saving lives.

 The global response to the tsunami was unprecedented, with billions raised shortly after

the disaster. In the end, it is of the human nature to succor the afflicted in any ways needed, be it

to volunteer our time, or donate goods and money. With each disaster and calamity comes the

learning moment, where an evaluation is done to better be prepared.

Work Citations:

Osborne, Hannah. "Boxing Day tsunami: The facts about the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster."

International Business Times UK. N.p., 24 Mar. 2017. Web. 03 Aug. 2017.

Pickrell, John. "Facts and Figures: Asian Tsunami Disaster." New Scientist. N.p., 20 Jan.

2005. Web. 03 Aug. 2017.

"The Deadliest Tsunami in HIstory?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d.

Web. 03 Aug. 2017.

"11 Facts About the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami." DoSomething.org | Volunteer for Social

Change. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Aug. 2017.