Tsunami Alert

In between text with my hubby, my fone rang. It was hubby himself calling. He asked me if we were on the way to pick him up. I said not yet but we're about to go. He told me to stay at home because there was a tsunami alert all over the Indian Ocean. I said "what?!" He asked me "Didn't you feel the tremble? There was an earthquake!" Oh my god!! Suddenly the horrors of tsunami 2004 flashed back in my memory.

I was still single and was still working in one of the resorts here in Maldives when tsunami 2004 happened. I thought I was going to die that day.

"I felt a slight tremor at around 6-ish that morning. But because I was still so sleepy, I didn't mind and just went back to sleep. Later at around 9am, my cousin and I woke up to a loud thump. I thought a big truck had hit our wall. I hurriedly checked outside what it was. I was dumbfounded when I found out that it was the wall on the staff area which fell down due to a stinky brownish water rushing forward. My first thought: a BIG wave splashed over to the staff area! So I scurried away and put all my shoes and flip flops on my bed. I didn't want them getting wet. I told my cousin to do the same. While I was busy with my other things on the floor, a sudden and strong current of stinky brownish water came rushing and immediately filled our room knee deep. That's when I panicked and know it was more than a splash of a big wave.

My bed was floating by then so I climbed and held on to the curtains by the side of my bed. I looked outside and saw that the water level kept on rising. There was also a guy staff outside holding on to a tree and the water was already at his waist level. At that point, I was in hysteria. I had several thoughts on how to escape/survive. I thought of swimming outside of the room to the trees so I can hold on just like the man was doing outside. But I know I wouldn't be able to do that because I couldn't leave my cousin in the room. She doesn't know how to swim.

The current was so strong, my bed was rocking. I looked at my cousin. Her converstation with her friend on the phone was cut. She was now crying. Then I heard wails from another room of girls. I imagined someone was deep down the water. I got even more terrified. I seriously thought, this is how I am going to die, such a tragic fate. I wonder how my family will take the news?

Then just as suddenly as the water filled our room, it also suddenly stopped. It was fast. I think the whole thing lasted for 15 minutes only. But then again, it might have been longer. I can't remember anymore. After the water has subsided, we went out and somebody was shouting tsunami! tsunami! I saw our GM walking towards the staff area and asking us if we were alright. He told us it was tsunami and the water's definitely coming back so we should take our important things and go immediately to the highest point of the island which was the lobby of the resort.

My cousin and I took our passports and tickets and some dry pieces of clothing and we hurriedly went to the lobby with the rest of the staff and the guests. The waiting was more tramautic. Imagine being prepared yet not being able to fight it.

After a whole day of waiting and praying, the sea water became stable and our GM said it was safe to sleep. The end."

So when my hubby told me the earthquake was a 7.9, I was very worried. What if tsunami happens again and worse this time? I have a small baby now and his life is more important to me than mine.


Postscript: Nobody was hurt in our resort. The girls who were screaming were just plain scared and the man who was holding on to the tree wasn't hurt.