On December 26, 2004, 55 year old K. Vadivel was fishing on the lagoon in Batticaloa with his son when the the first waves came in. They rushed to the shoreline reaching it just as the first wave hit. Grabbing hold of a tree K. Vadivel held on. His son reached the house and his mother. He held onto her but the force of the water swept her away. Her body was discovered later that afternoon.
K. Vadivel sits on the remains of the foundation of
his home in Batticaloa. His daughter (r), 19 year old
Manimala holds a photo of her mother.
This community was within 200 meters
of the sea. All houses in this area were
destroyed with heavy loss of life
Although this man escaped along with his family his home did not. All that remains is the foundation.
A woman in a temporary shelter
near Thirukovil.
A church in Batticaloa
Two women who lost family
members in Thirukovil
A woman cries over the loss of her daughter
Father and son at the remains of their house in Batticaloa.
Removing rubble in Batticaloa
A casket is carried across a temporary bridge near Kallaru
