Tsunami Orphans in Thailand
Wat Komaneyaket School
Khuk-Khak Village, Takuapa District, Phang-Nga Province 82190, Thailand
Tsunami orphans at Kommaneyaket school.
A memory to friends who shall never return.
We will always remember you.
A child's drawing to reflect his lost friend among lowers.
A schoolgirl's imaginary about Tsunami and the lost friend.
The map of Takuapa bay.
Asian Tsunami Zone, 2004. (Click for Phang-Nga map.)
Ron & Rebecca of Seattle, Tsunami survivors never stop rescueing Tsunami survivors. Read their interesting story under Direct Support.
Ms. Raffaella, a philanthropist of Verona, flew directly from Italy to see Tsunami orphans with her own eyes. She appeared calm and asked if she could meet them.
My sixth grade student, Nilnate Jailuk (right) could never forget Minique, a French donor. She greeted us as we had visited Pakweep Temporary Shelter where she lived. Nilnate lost her mother with their house to the Tsunami. (See orphan gallery)
This web site contains information about Tsunami orphans in Thailand, particularly those who survived the nature rage on December 26, 2004. They are among students I taught during my private, two-weeks mission to help the affected, primary to middle shool children at Kommneyaket School, Khuk Khak village, Takuapa district, Phang-Nga province, between January 17-29, 2005.
It began on Sunday, December 26, 2004. As I was singing in my church on Sukhumvit Road, the very central area of Bangkok, Thailand, a friend of mine asked me if I had noticed that there was an eartquake early this morning. In reply, I made a joke. "Don't worry about it. Today is not yet the Last Day. Amen. "
A few hours later when I got home, I checked the news from internet as part of my daily routine. There was a odd message; it didn't say but screamed,
"HELP! We need help now. A lot of people at Kaolak are dying. They are drowning. The water are flooding everywhere. Whoever it is, please do something."
There was a silence. A few minutes passed, more and more messages of this kind were pouring on to the screen. Some contained live pictures taken from the actual scene. The most awlful pictures showed a causasian female in red swimming outfit running toward a long line of an approaching, murdurous wave at the horizon to call back her children. She seemed to wave her arms frantically and shouted. Then they all disappearred under the huge sea surface.Some Facts
1. Among 6 provinces along Andaman coast: Ranong, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Tran and Satoonon, Phang-Nga ranks no. 1 in terms of damages and death toll.
2. Takuapa is a coastal district of Phang-Nga province; it sufferred the most damages. Two highest death toll are from Ban-Moung village (north) and Kaolak Bay (south). They are located about 30 kilometres apart. While the former is a densely-populated, fisherman village, the latter is an overcrowded area of hotels and resorts for foreign tourists.
3. Allow me to mention. The word "damages" at Ban-Moung and Kaolak bay means literally total. That is, everything movable or immovable was completely wiped out or flattened out as if it was blowned by a nuclear bomb.
Imagine, if you drove 4 kilometres from the foot of Kaolak moutain, heading north along the only coastal road, you would see no buildings on either sides. While the sea shore was about two kilometres away on the left hand side, a navy ship wreck was standing near a hill one kilometre away on the right hand side. Thus, the total damage area was about 10 square kilometres. Imagine how horrible the moment was!
Table 1: The total number of Tsunami casualities in Thailand
as of Febureary 2, 2005
Phang-Nga Krabi Pukhet Ranong Trang Satoon Phang-Nga Krabi Pukhet Ranong Trang Satoon Phang-Nga Krabi Pukhet Ranong Trang Satoon Source: Public Announcement No. 65 by the Center for the Affected from Earthquake and Tsunami Waves along Andaman Coase.
Impacts on Students
It was not until January 15, 2005 that I was able to reach the school headmaster over the phone. Officials at the District Office of Basic Education informed me that Wat Komaneyaket school suffered the most student casualities.
"Sorry, I cannn't hear you. What? That's correct. Can you teach? Good. I don't care. Fine. Certainly, you are welcome here," said Mr. Suchart Wungwisate, the school headmaster. "Excuse me. Tell me when you'll be here. Please come."
"I will see you there on Monday morning." I hanged up the phone and started packing.
Table 2: The total number of student casualities at Wat Komaneyaket school
Death Missing Injures Orphans - Lost Father - Lost Mother - Lost Both Total Orphans Source: Official school report as of January 6, 2005.
Wat Kommaneyaket SchoolGetting to know the school
The Orphan
- List of orphan students (Thai)
- Orphan student in class
- Orphan gallery
- Students' Tsunami episodes
The School
- Renovation project
- Drinking water project
- Teaching staff and contact
- Sign Guestbook
- View Guestbook
Aid and Assistance
- Temporary shelter
- Mental rehabilitation
- Physcological assessment by Dep. of Mental Health
- Buddhist ritual by Buddhist monks
- Bangkok tour by Civil Section of Thai army
- Direct support
- Missy McDonald fund, U.S.A. (Gallery)
- Italian assistance fund through Giorgio and Raffaella
- French assistance fund through MoniqueThe Tsunami
- Tsunami scenes at Kaolak
- Official memorial service by Takuapa's municipalityRelated Sites
- Wave of Mercy by Ron and Rebecca
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