Then and Now: The 2004 Thailand Tsunami

March 13, 2006 8:08 AM

Thailand Tsunami: Then and Now. A series of photographs, taken by Zoriah, shows the some of the devastation caused by the 2004 tsunami and the subsequent recovery in Thailand. [via warshooter]
posted by monju_bosatsu (13 comments total)

Very interesting. I like how each photo has just about the same angle and some other commonalities.
posted by pithy comment at 8:51 AM on March 13, 2006

That's very impressive. I especially like the pictures of what used to be bodybags, or whatever, and are now only empty sections of pavement, almost meaningless without the original.

The progress and cleanup is pretty amazing.
posted by delmoi at 8:58 AM on March 13, 2006

Heartbreaking. Thanks for this FPP monju_bosatsu. The warshooter site is very interesting.
posted by nickyskye at 9:07 AM on March 13, 2006

Very striking photos; thanks, monju_bosatsu. It reminds me of this, but I prefer these ones.
posted by Drexen at 9:40 AM on March 13, 2006

Heartbreaking

Quite the contrary for me. It's heartwarming to see the progress made, and personally a little shaming considering the state of New Orleans & much of the Gulf Coast to this day. Great post, m_b
posted by jonson at 9:55 AM on March 13, 2006

To clarify: heartbreaking to see the damage done and imagining how arduous, painful the progress must be. Having my own small cottage condemned from damage done in a flood last year I can personally say how arduous it is to clean up after a flood.

Cleaning up after a tsunami has to be staggering. I agree it's heartwarming to see the progress made.
posted by nickyskye at 10:47 AM on March 13, 2006

I was moved most by the bodybag/bare pavement photos. If I arrived there now, I wouldn't know what had been there before, but to the survivors those ghosts must still be there somewhat.

I was intrigued by the contrast in some of the pics - how so much had returned to normal (tourists and colourful umbrellas on the beach, for example) while certain scars remain apparently.
posted by raedyn at 11:13 AM on March 13, 2006

I am still looking for before and after pictures of the Phuket Yacht Club where I spent my honeymoon in 1988. What an amazingly beautiful place. Question: Does it say "new (something) fashion" on one of those body bags? What the heck?
posted by onegreeneye at 11:21 AM on March 13, 2006

onegreeneye, this is all I could find as a post tsunami image but it sounds from recent visitors like it's up and running ok again.
posted by nickyskye at 11:55 AM on March 13, 2006

I was in Phuket in September and it's amazing how little damage remains. However, there is still quite a bit of economic damage left. Tourist authorities are having a hard time convincing tourists that Phuket is safe.
posted by Alison at 1:15 PM on March 13, 2006

Some more before-and-after tsunami pictures: photogallery from John Stanmeyer, and satellite photos from DigitalGlobe.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 2:20 PM on March 13, 2006

These photos are amazing.
posted by chunking express at 4:10 PM on March 13, 2006

Wow. I am more touched by these than the others mentioned by Drexen. Amazing how inconsequential we are when faced with nature's wrath.
posted by annieb at 4:22 PM on March 13, 2006