‘26th December 2004’ - day to remember

On the morning of December 26, 2004 an underwater earthquake measuring nine on the Richter scale triggered a series of tidal waves, which caused twelve countries being affected by the Tsunami.
In Indian state of Tamil Nadu, five years later, survivors of the tragedy moved on with their lives still, remembrance on the day of Tsunami stays the strongest memory of their past.

On Tsunami day, Amma Kannu and her husband went to the beach. While her husband went fishing, she stayed on the shore collecting crabs. She saw a huge wave coming, which swept her all the way to the mangroves. While loudly crying for help, some villagers spotted her, and came to rescue. She was taken to the hospital, where she stayed for a while, but as she came back home, her husband was not there. She never got to find his body. Amma Kannu believes God himself saved her on that day. Five years on to the tragedy she lives all alone with her two goats.

Kaliappan has a tragic story to share too. On Tsunami day he lost his wife and stayed alone with their two children.
He was fishing on the sea, while his wife was collecting crabs on the shore. After he finished fishing, he went with other fishermen to the market to sell the fish, while his wife still remained on the shore collecting crabs. She was swept away by the wave. He searched for her for 10 days without any luck, and after that he went to another village where the policemen showed him photographs of dead people. One of them was his wife. Five years on to the tragedy, Kaliappan lives happily with his second wife and two children from the first marriage. He remembers the day of Tsunami and will be living with the fear of the sea for the rest of his life.

Arumugam and his wife saw Tsunami coming while being on the shore. They saved themselves by running inland. When they came back to the place they used to live, nothing was there anymore; the hut, boat and fishing net were completely washed off.
Five years later, they live in Kadaloor district with their baby daughter. Arumugam wants to send his daughter to school so she can complete her studies, find a good job and live a respectful life.

In spite of their huge fear, the only reason why these people still go back to the sea every single day is because no matter how much the ocean has taken away from them, it has also given them, and keeps on giving food very much necessary to feed their loved ones. And after all… life has to go on.