Personal Accounts
| A Literary Account of 1958 tsunami of Lituya Bay, Alaska, portrays the power and magnitude witnessed by the few inhabitants of the area. An historical account of the 1964 Tsunami that hit Kodiak, Alaska also shows the personal and human side of these natural disasters. |
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The BBC has compiled numerous personal accounts of the recent tsunami in South Asia and numerous BLOGs have sprung up where witnesses are able to Share their Dramatic Stories. Some have chosen to share Personal Photos which give a glimpse of the devastation experienced and MSNBC has been posting daily slideshows. |
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Some have posted photos, such as this one depicting tourists rushing to safety before the tsunami hit the Hat Rai Lay Beach in Thailand (note that the water had receded before the deadly wave struck). Other eyewitnesses have made Audio Accountsor Written Stories of their experiences available on the internet. The largest tsunami wave ever recorded was August 9, 1958, in Lituya Bay, Alaska. It reached a height of 576 meters (1700 feet) above sea level. A Literary Account of this event portrays the power and magnitude witnessed by the few inhabitants of the area. Some of the other Largest Historical Tsunamis have also been recorded in this area as well as other sites bordering Pacific Rim. |
| There are even fictional accounts, such as the award winning book "The Big Wave" by Pearl Buck (1947). She tells the story of a young boy whose family perishes when his entire village is destroyed by a tsunami while he is safe in the mountains with friends. The short story portrays his grief, lonliness and confusion as tries to carry on after the catastrophe, while living with the family that took him to the mountains that day. |  |
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