Most Powerful Quake in 40 Years Triggers Death and Destruction

In Thailand, the waves wiped out bungalows and washed through seaside hotels, killing tourists and slamming scuba divers against coral reefs. The government ordered evacuation from stricken coastal areas, including 600 from the tiny island of Koh Phi Phi and the resorts on the islands of Phuket and Krabi . More than 158 people died in the holiday island of Phuket and other resorts, according to the Public Health Ministry’s Narenthorn Center, with thousands injured. This was the peak of the tourist season in the area and eyewitnesses described sunbathers being washed out to sea.

My friend Karl is in east asia and scheduled to leave Saigon for Bangkok on the 29th. Although I don’t know for certain if he did this time, he often begins his trips in and near Phuket.

Wikipedia coverage, MeFi thread.