December 26, 2004
The Indian Ocean
was the scene of the most destructive tsunami in
recorded history
..................................................
An 9.0 Earth Quake struck at the nothern tip of Sumatra setting off 15 earth quakes on the islands to the north. The tsunami took 80 minutes to hit Thialand and 120 minutes to hit Sri Lanka and India. See: map at right from compiled information.

At a beach with crumpled luxury hotels near by, more than 3,100 bodies were retrieved, nearly 2,000 of them foreigners. Some villagers were sure that up to 2,000 could be buried beneath the baking mud.

In the center of the Indian Ocean lies Diego Garcia. One would think the island would be wiped out, but favorable topography minimized the tsunami impact. It is shown in map below as British Indian Ocean Territory.

Let's hope aid stays as long as it is needed. Read INDIA UNCUT.

The Krakatoa volcano, in the area where this 8.9 earthquake went off, blew up in 1883.-- the explosion of Krakatoa was heard in Diego Garcia -- which was only 2000 miles away.

A Navy official said three P-3 Orion aircraft, geared for survey work were deployed to Thailand from Diego Garcia. The spokesman said they don't engage directly in search and rescue operations, but they are an invaluable resource for such missions. Their crews can spot people stranded in the tidal wave area and can even drop life rafts to them. View  USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72

Tsunamis are primarily associated with earthquakes in oceanic and coastal regions. When an earthquake occurs, the energy travels outward in all directions from the source. This can be illustrated by throwing a pebble into a small, still pond. The pebble represents a meteorite or some other energy source, and the pond represents the ocean. The ripples that travel out in all directions from the focus, or the point where the pebble hit the water, represent the energy that creates a sea wave. Notice how the waves become larger as they reach shore, where the water is shallower.
This tsunamis site was identified
in a NASA funded 2002 study

Full Report on Wikipedia Web site

sattilite images
NORMAL BEACH


WATER RECEDES

WATER SWIRLS IN


Other images created by Tony Demark

USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72 - Carrier Strike Force
Operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia and Thailand.
Indian Ocean (Jan. 1, 2005) – Lt. Jeremy Kilday conducts a health brief for sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) whom are hopeful to be a part of a disaster relief team in the Tsunami-stricken coastal regions of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia and Thailand. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Jordon R. Beesley
Indian Ocean (Jan. 2, 2005) - Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Savoy prepares bread in the bakery aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for the victims of the Tsunami-stricken areas of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia and Thailand. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Timothy C. Roache Jr.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kevin Herbert packs Doxycycline, a Malaria vaccination, for sailors that will be part of a disaster relief team in the Tsunami-stricken coastal regions of Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Here are 9 pages of the Report
Indian Ocean (Jan. 3, 2005) - Sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), hold lines during and underway replenishment with Military Sealift Command (MSC) fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7). Benfold, assigned to Carrier Strike Group Nine (CSG-9), is currently conducting humanitarian operations in the wake of the Tsunami that struck South East Asia. CSG-9 is currently operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia and Thailand. U.S Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Ronald Dallatorre (RELEASED)


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