Orphans and survivors 20 years after the Boxing Day Tsunami in Thailand丨ABC News
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- The tourists who flock to Phuket today would have no idea of the horrors that unfolded here two decades ago. But for those who lived through the tsunami, the memories remain vivid. We spoke with survivors, who shared their stories of helping others during the disaster and rebuilding their lives in its aftermath.
“Tsunami: Stories of Survival” is an in-depth documentary produced by ABC’s Asia Pacific Newsroom. Filmed across Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India, this documentary captures untold stories of survival, resilience, healing and connection over the last two decades after the waves have receded.
Watch the full documentary here: • Tsunami: Stories of Su...
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The last young man was a shining light, good for him for finding that light in such a horrible situation
Thank you ABC Australia for not only allowing people to post comments but especially for this touching memorial to the survivors and victims of the Boxing Day tsunami. So many people’s lives were changed forever yet there are many positive and good outcomes that arose from this catastrophe. Great reporting, thank you. From Dubrovnik in Croatia, Zoltan
I remember it like yesterday and it still feels completely unreal! I live in Sweden and 543 people died from our country. There were many children who came home alone without their mother and father. The report touches me all the way to the soul of the mother who lost her two children and the man who takes care of the children. This event touched the whole world, let us hope it never happens again!
As a family we visited thailand around 12 years ago, i can honestly say they were the nicest natured people i had ever met. I know it sounds really niave to make such a sweeping generalization but they were so warm welcoming and generous.
I was there. Sofitel Khaolak. The only survivor of 5 people on the first floor in one of the guest rooms when the wave hit at around 10 am.
What an amazing man. So much respect for how he has taken his life and helped others.
Visited Phuket & Koh Phi Phi for the first time, 2.5 months ago, and it's definitely amazing to see the recovery. It's beautiful and I love the locals.
My heart goes out to the Mum who lost both her daughters❤and to all the hundreds of thousands of families who lost a loved one❤the scale of the destruction is hard to comprehend.
Hard to believe it's been 20 years, honestly. Gosh... RIP to all of those lost.
I’ll never forget seeing on the news about the tsunami the faces of the girls that were like in this whirlpool and it took them down and you never saw them again. I always wonder if they survived. The stories of the survivors that have lost loved ones was heartbreaking. This information was put together brilliantly, and the reporter was one of the nicest clear voices I’ve heard about this tragedy. My heart goes out to those that are still suffering 20 years later.
The first couple deserves their own documentary
Here in Thailand, it’s Boxing Day ❤
That last man is a wonderful survivor..How loving of him to take care of those orphans 😢🤗❤
What a roller coaster of emotions. I can’t imagine the fear and hopelessness that such a disaster leaves in its wake. The attitude of the people that lived through this is amazing
i'm so grateful some people survived and have carried on to help themselves and other. yay humans.
I still feel deeply sad when watch this news and loss of our nation. And this documentary is touching.
Twenty years already. How time flies. I remember it like yesterday
I feel happy for the woman who got a son...bless her 🥰🤗
What a horror for all those people. But, the mother whos daughters were killed then to have a baby is such a miracle and blessing❤
So much loss at one time! So glad to hear of the woman having another child after such loss. God bless!
Watana is an incredibly resilient young man. To lose your parents so young and still turn into a Good Man💜
this was so lovely to see the beautiful outcomes of such a huge tragedy.
Time flies so fast, 20 years.
I remember that day like it was yesterday. That was one of the most worst days in history 😪
Wow, 20 years, I was just at the start of an 8 and a half year stay in Thailand but luckily I was up north when it hit, I remember it well, can't believe it's 20 years already 💓
Thank you for this. I have often wondered how things are getting on, decades later. People have rallied and even though will never forget that awful day, much good has risen in support of others. My heart is with those innocent people, even today.
Wonderful reporting, the human factor. Heart wrenching.
I remember 26th of december is my birthday and woke up with this on rhe news. So sad ... Poor people
Thank you for sharing these stories. I had planned to go to Thailand that Christmas, but it fell through. I watched the news coverage in horror, and wondered at my luck. A friend's refusal to give me the contact info for the guesthouse they'd stayed at/ with, saved my life - though I was right miffed about it at the time.
Instead, one month later, in the evening on Jan. 27, 2005, I was thrown (pitched at great force) head-first down a double-decker bus stairwell, on my way home from my uni teaching job in Hong Kong. I lost much - 3" in height from the sheer force of the literal head-first impact, meeting the accelerating bus stairwell wall in my rearward descent - lost my job, my money, health, etc., but not my life.
These stories bring me to tears, but I feel compelled to watch and rewatch them, perhaps trying to make sense of the senseless. I guess, if "God" wants to whack you, He will, and if you miss one "appointment", He'll arrange another.
To all of those who lost loved ones, and to all of those who perished, and all others that suffered terrible losses, I wish you love and solace, and may Grace shine upon you and yours, for the rest of your lives.
Really great reporting, thank you for sharing their stories 🙏🏻
Hope - there is always hope - what a legacy!
Incredibly moving and sad 😢
So sad when remember this moment 😢
God bless all of those people. I cannot imagine what they went through.
Thank you for sharing these stories.
It is heartbreaking, so many are separated and so many are lost
Prayers for all the families who were impacted by this tsunami 😔 may the souls lost rest in peace and the families find comfort in their memories ❤️
Sad & tragic story about human loss & survival - Thank you 🙏
Absolutely amazing couple. 😢
Crazy that 20 years have passed. My son was born 4 days after the tsunami 😢
Khao Lak, one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. Can't imagine that Tsunami in 2004 changed their life forever.
Very sad ….we always need…to be reminded…..how lucky we are…..❤….🇦🇺🇦🇺
Wow, so sad to hear all these stories of loss and survival 😢🥺 prayers for them 🙏
I just watched an excellent documentary on this on Hulu. Its so sad 😞
Imagine how elated survivors must feel to know they made it. All the usual sympathies aside, we should also celebrate the strong ones that made it, especially the real Spocks that chose their own life over doomed heroics, and with full sympathy and condolences to the many victims.
So touching ❤
So fortunate....
This is soo difficult to take in. God we thank you for the loves saved on that day.
We stayed in Khao Lak 2024 and I was very sad when I visited the beach. There were pictures of children they did....
We visited also the Tsunami museum and I cried when I saw all the horrible pictures. For me, it's not okay to show all the horrible pictures of dead bodies and it's disrespectful to the deceased.....
Thailand is such a beautiful country and the locals are very friendly. We are going to Thailand 2025 again and I'll thinking of all the poor people with respect ❤
Some very touching story’s
I was on Railay Beach for this. Massive devastation! I did search and rescue for 12 hours and couldn't do enough. Such a sad day!
Everyone's time is limited, spend every day happily, let go of what we missed, start over if there is still a chance.
Man everyday i watch the live stream in koh samui, chaweng beach, got to love thailand, the culture, the people, hopefully one day i could visit
Thank you for this report, it was very touching to see and hear the story from this humans they survive and how GOD grants miracles onto them. Earth is a dangerous place and many people have had a proof of it. May GOD bless us all here on this planet🙄🇦🇹
It was a shocked to the world! It suddenly happened without a warning.Many tourist in Thailand spent their vacation in the beach of Phuket Thailand. I am from the Philippines I heard about it and have watched the news. Many died in the Tsunami in Phuket Thailand in 2006 including children..In fact ,one of the Professor husband and wife German couple Dr Schollband Mrs Scholl died in the Tsunami as said by my Aunt,her colleague and co-professor. It reached the news in U.P. Department of Geology since their colleagues have heard the news through their son. It's a miracle,their two sons or daughter have survived in the hotel.
God bless each and every survivor and every family member or friend of the perished. A tragic day in thailands history. May we all be thankful for never to be put in this situation.
Let the thai's remember in their own way tomorrow the 26th dec 2024 20 years on
God bless ❤
Heart goes out to all peoples
Rest in peace 💔🙏
Wow que reportagem boa. Obrigada
I ll never forget was in Uk but hit me hard imagine all those csught up in it. Still follow the results now.When was in Sri Lanka in 2012 remember train deaths and saw Gaulle stadium which had been co pletely destroyed . A famous sportsman rebuilt it all. God rest all their souls.. Thsnk you ABC Australia for giving a proper and correct report..unlike today in Uk where it was just glossed over. What a winderful.person was the man who runs the orphanage he s dedicated his life
Million of tourist in Indonesia thailand & sri lanka had no Idea the Massive tsunami is Coming 😢😢😢😢😢
In September 2004 I was in Phuket’s Patong bay enjoying full speed on a jet ski. A random thought came to me like a voice: “If a tsunami hit right now you’d never be found”. I got nervous and afew minutes later I returned the jet ski.
After returning home to America 3 months later this deadly tsunami did hit the very same bay I was in. I saw pictures of the McDonalds and Starbucks with boats and cars stuck inside. There were people being stranded and trapped in rushing islands of debris.
I had a strong premonition that September day 3months before the premonition became true. Why would I have such a random thought? Never in history has a tsunami hit the region. God was warning me that day
heartbreaking
20 years is so fast.....
🤲🏽🤲🏾🤲🏿 Rest In Peace 🤲🏿🤲🏾
At that time, no ordinary person in Thailand knew what Tsunami was. We were never taught about it
if their children were alive, they would have been my age..
I remember when It happened the day after, I was at a pizza bar In downtown Vojens Denmark & I didnt understand anything. But damn everything kicked into overdrive & there was a lot of innitiatives put into the sea.
Last year I was staying at patong & the stories told by locals & tour guides.
My birth place 😢
This is very very sad
เขาหลักหาดทรายสวยมากคะ อยากให้ทุกคนมาเที่ยว
🙏🙏🙏
Thoughts with all those who lost someone
The question is. What have their government done to give their citizen warning of the next tsunami?
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Thank God you have Fluke now 9:14 never get discouraged by challenges
So sad
20 years already
4:40 "Sir" that something you're describing is call God! Known as the heavenly father ❤
FUE MUY
😢
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Why no comments?
🙏🌏🕊💖🌹😢
20 anni?
☺
Stop calling it Boxing day like the rest of the world is supposed to know what that is. It wasn´t Boxing day in Thailand.. so there is no reason why you are pushing that Holiday to the rest of the world
In the human history there has been numerous natural and man-made disasters. So many people have been dead and missing. At the sane time, geographical changes have formed the lands and seas as we live are affluently on earth. Which do you prefer dying from, the human disaster called wars, or natural disasters? Preventive measures must be discussed and practised for the future incidents to come.
The irony of the woman getting ivf when so many children lost their parents and needed a family
😮g😂nmm
A person that I talked to on this topic was there that day and has been in Thailand for 27 years now he said. He had a business in Patong. The US government notified the Thai authorities, to include the governor of that province, about the oncoming danger and it was not taken seriously by the local officials he says. After all, it was Boxing Day in the high season. Who wants to get people into the highlands and look foolish if the tsunami turns out to be some little bit of waves....I paraphrase his words. They knew it what he said and didn't tell people or take it seriously. Supposedly, that governor was just moved along and suffered no consequences for his lack of action...again, according to this man that I spoke with over in Khanom Beach.
ตอนนั้นผมเชื่อว่าคนไทยส่วนใหญ่รวมถึงตัวผมด้วยไม่รู้ว่า สึนามิคืออะไรแต่เหตุการณ์นั้นทำให้เรารู้จักและหาวิธีป้องกันในการเตือนภัย
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So sad
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