Monday, December 27, 2004
Email #4 - Dec 27, 2004
From Katie - Dec 27, 2004:
Just spent the day at school – Dulwich -- manning the registration desk for people needing shelter for a night (or until they can find a next staging ground – whether a flight home or whatever).
Very sobering. Adults catatonically distraught at the loss of a spouse (with me not knowing whether they already knew it was hopeless or whether the spouse was just ‘missing’ – so just having to say, “Now what is your name? Where are you from? Where were you staying?”). People with severe cuts, bruises, and wounds – all over their bodies. Others just lost – mentally and physically -- from the experience. Most were tourists, but there were also many Thais among the 200 odd I checked in, e.g., doctors and nurses, flown down from Bangkok. Other Thais were staff from resorts up the coast which were ruined (along with the staff housing).
Dulwich teachers went out to hospitals, helping those walking wounded being released find a place to stay until flying out, and to the Phuket city hall, where the embassy staff had desks, issuing temporary travel permits/passports. They would collect people needing a place to stay and vanloads would then descend upon Dulwich and we would assign them to boarding houses. Embassy staff were also staying at Dulwich, but they’re not expected to show up to sleep until late tonight.
Some Dulwich staff – experts at diving – spent the day searching submerged carparks and buildings/cellars in Patong, looking for bodies.
Most of the people coming in today were from the outlying areas – e.g., the island of Phi Phi and the northern shores of Khao Lak – not from on Phuket island. These refugees had spent the night either in the jungle or in primitive medical areas, before being driven down to Phuket – the major metropolis.
We heard the British embassy was bringing in extra staff – so we needed extra beds – and the rumour was that the British government was flying in special planes to take out the British citizens. Most of the people I registered were German or Swedish or Finnish. (Those Nordic countries really love the sun in the middle of winter….)
Then there was a call for A Negative blood – a rare blood type among Asians. Several of the traumatized foreigners were willing to climb into a mini-van for a long trek and wait at a local hospital to give blood – knowing what a difference it would make.
Heard horrible stories of babies and children being swept away. Most of the Dulwich staff is now accounted for. The art teacher was finally located after being medically evacuated from Phi Phi Island. We only know she is “ok”. Another teacher had gone to Sri Lanka for the Xmas holiday. We’ve given up on him.
Tomorrow I imagine my day will be spent ferrying people to Phuket Town (where the embassy reps are stationed) or to the airport (where there are shuttle services to Bangkok).
It’s all so sad.
-- Katie
Just spent the day at school – Dulwich -- manning the registration desk for people needing shelter for a night (or until they can find a next staging ground – whether a flight home or whatever).
Very sobering. Adults catatonically distraught at the loss of a spouse (with me not knowing whether they already knew it was hopeless or whether the spouse was just ‘missing’ – so just having to say, “Now what is your name? Where are you from? Where were you staying?”). People with severe cuts, bruises, and wounds – all over their bodies. Others just lost – mentally and physically -- from the experience. Most were tourists, but there were also many Thais among the 200 odd I checked in, e.g., doctors and nurses, flown down from Bangkok. Other Thais were staff from resorts up the coast which were ruined (along with the staff housing).
Dulwich teachers went out to hospitals, helping those walking wounded being released find a place to stay until flying out, and to the Phuket city hall, where the embassy staff had desks, issuing temporary travel permits/passports. They would collect people needing a place to stay and vanloads would then descend upon Dulwich and we would assign them to boarding houses. Embassy staff were also staying at Dulwich, but they’re not expected to show up to sleep until late tonight.
Some Dulwich staff – experts at diving – spent the day searching submerged carparks and buildings/cellars in Patong, looking for bodies.
Most of the people coming in today were from the outlying areas – e.g., the island of Phi Phi and the northern shores of Khao Lak – not from on Phuket island. These refugees had spent the night either in the jungle or in primitive medical areas, before being driven down to Phuket – the major metropolis.
We heard the British embassy was bringing in extra staff – so we needed extra beds – and the rumour was that the British government was flying in special planes to take out the British citizens. Most of the people I registered were German or Swedish or Finnish. (Those Nordic countries really love the sun in the middle of winter….)
Then there was a call for A Negative blood – a rare blood type among Asians. Several of the traumatized foreigners were willing to climb into a mini-van for a long trek and wait at a local hospital to give blood – knowing what a difference it would make.
Heard horrible stories of babies and children being swept away. Most of the Dulwich staff is now accounted for. The art teacher was finally located after being medically evacuated from Phi Phi Island. We only know she is “ok”. Another teacher had gone to Sri Lanka for the Xmas holiday. We’ve given up on him.
Tomorrow I imagine my day will be spent ferrying people to Phuket Town (where the embassy reps are stationed) or to the airport (where there are shuttle services to Bangkok).
It’s all so sad.
-- Katie
