Gay Tourists Stranded After Big Quake & Tsunami

At least seven Asian nations and one in East Africa, including Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, are ruined in the wake of the most powerful tsunami (triggered by a powerful earthquake, measuring 9.0 on the Richter Scale, centered off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island) to strike the region in decades. Phuket, the most well known and popular gay beach destination was one of the most hardly hit areas.
The beaches at Phuket, popular with gay tourists from Australia, North America and Europe, were filled with people. This was the height of the tourist season. Many people were in the water when the giant waves, as high as four storeys, struck without warning.
Some people were standing by the beaches, taking pictures of the phenomena, until the waves engulfed them. This is a living nightmare reminiscent of the movie “The Day After Tomorrow”.
The latest death toll stands at more than 23,700 (including the Thailand King’s 21-year-old grandson) at this point of writing but thousands more are reported missing and the death toll is expected to rise. About a million people are displaced. This ranks as the biggest earthquake in the world in 40 years, and the 5th biggest in history, even toppling the magnitude of the ’95 Kobe Earthquake.
Here is an animation of the tsunami which shows the wave of the tsunami moving outward from the island chain north of Sumatra. Remarkably, it travelled the 750 miles to Sri Lanka and Eastern India in only 100 minutes. Here’s another animation (Quicktime).
Our hearts and condolences go out to the many victims of the catastrophe as well as their families and friends. A global relief effort is now underway. We pray for the speedy restoration of order.
[QC: One of our team members had earlier intended to vacation at Phuket and The Maldives. We’re so relieved he’s fine. Another one has bought tickets to Phuket for a holiday with his boyfriend next week. Not sure if he’s going now.]

Dec 28, 2004 By Editor D 2 Comments