2004 Tsunami in Phi Phi Islands

On December 26, 2004, a Tsunami(60 foot wave) hit Phi Phi island and killed over 4000 unsuspecting residents and tourists. There was no warning except for a helicopter-type sound 10 minutes before it struck. The main sandy beach connecting the two island mountain ranges where most people live and tourists stay was completely destroyed.

I was horrified viewing the memorial and reading about the memories. I spoke with a survivor. He said it hit at 10:30 on a sunny morning. He was woken by a friend. Terrified, he ran to the mountains to watch the drama unfold. He lost everything--a new waterfront restaurant that was opened the previous month. He was left with 50 cents in the bank. The rest of money was wash away from his house.

As we all know, life is short and death can happen at any time. This tragedy and memorial are a stark reminder of how precious life is and that you have to appreciate the special moments. It can be gone in a flash or a splash.





This is the sandy beach(isthmus) connecting the two mountain ranges.