Calang
Blog 3/5
Having unloaded our cargo of life-giving necessities, we roll down the narrow road and despite a strong crosswind from the ocean, Tim keeps us perfectly centered on the narrow road and we lift off for the return flight to Meulaboh. I savor a satisfied feeling of being part of a “last mile” delivery of food and supplies to hurting tsunami victims.
Along the coast, we pass over Calang, a town that lost a shocking 80% of its residents. A soldier was on the beach with his friends the morning the tsunami struck and survived, but all his friends were swept away and lost. Everyone was curious when the sea water retreat almost a mile from the beach and fish were visible flopping around on the wet sand. Many walked out to collect fish but this soldier just observed and felt a sense of fear. Off in the distance he saw a wall of black water that seemed to be coming toward them. As it got closer the top of the horrible black wave was curling over and he described it as a cobra head sticking 60 feet up.
In terror he started running to the hill behind him while his friends and others just stood and watched the deadly approaching wave like a deer paralyzed in the headlights of a car. Just making it to safe higher ground, he watched in horror as the massive black cobra wave engulfed and swallowed up the town. Now, tents dot the ruins and many have camped on the hill.
Flying along the relatively flat coastline the tsunami has left an indelible mark on the landscape. From the beach to about a mile inland the rush and deposit of salt water has killed vegetation and turned it into a flood plane.
Here, a prison lies in ruins but everyone was able to escape.
On final for landing at Meulaboh the earthquake damage to the runway is obvious – the center line is jagged as shear lines displaced the runway right and left. We feel the repaired cracks as we roll out on the runway.
Having unloaded our cargo of life-giving necessities, we roll down the narrow road and despite a strong crosswind from the ocean, Tim keeps us perfectly centered on the narrow road and we lift off for the return flight to Meulaboh. I savor a satisfied feeling of being part of a “last mile” delivery of food and supplies to hurting tsunami victims.
Along the coast, we pass over Calang, a town that lost a shocking 80% of its residents. A soldier was on the beach with his friends the morning the tsunami struck and survived, but all his friends were swept away and lost. Everyone was curious when the sea water retreat almost a mile from the beach and fish were visible flopping around on the wet sand. Many walked out to collect fish but this soldier just observed and felt a sense of fear. Off in the distance he saw a wall of black water that seemed to be coming toward them. As it got closer the top of the horrible black wave was curling over and he described it as a cobra head sticking 60 feet up.
In terror he started running to the hill behind him while his friends and others just stood and watched the deadly approaching wave like a deer paralyzed in the headlights of a car. Just making it to safe higher ground, he watched in horror as the massive black cobra wave engulfed and swallowed up the town. Now, tents dot the ruins and many have camped on the hill.
Flying along the relatively flat coastline the tsunami has left an indelible mark on the landscape. From the beach to about a mile inland the rush and deposit of salt water has killed vegetation and turned it into a flood plane.
Here, a prison lies in ruins but everyone was able to escape.
On final for landing at Meulaboh the earthquake damage to the runway is obvious – the center line is jagged as shear lines displaced the runway right and left. We feel the repaired cracks as we roll out on the runway.
posted by Dave Ketcham at 4:40 PM
2 Comments:
Hello Dave,
We would like to use some of your photos on the website of WMBI90.1 FM (www.wmbi.org), after talking to Marshall Elfstrand. Please write and let me know if this is ok. I wanted to check we had your permission before copying them. We're interested in the one of the UN site, the MAF plane, and maybe the runway since it was damaged in the previous quake.
Please write to me at:
amassist@moody.edu
Thank you so much for your help!
Rachel
Hello Dave,
We would like to use some of your photos on the website of WMBI90.1 FM (www.wmbi.org), after talking to Marshall Elfstrand. Please write and let me know if this is ok. I wanted to check we had your permission before copying them. We're interested in the one of the UN site, the MAF plane, and maybe the runway since it was damaged in the previous quake.
Please write to me at:
amassist@moody.edu
Thank you so much for your help!
Rachel
7:01 AM
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