Tsunami Aftermath - Photo Essay

Tsunami Aftermath

Photo Essays

ADB Field Trip to Sri Lanka’s West Coast
14 Feb 2005

Bob Rinker, deputy country director of ADB’s Sri Lanka Resident Mission and a structural engineer, and Ian Gill, ADB Principal External Relations Specialist, went on a reconnaissance mission to tsunami-affected areas between Moratuwa and Hikkaduwa on Sri Lanka’s west coast on 13 January 2005. They were accompanied by Janeesha Samarasekera, from SLRM, as interpreter.

The tsunami traveled from Indonesia’s northern province of Aceh, hit Sri Lanka’s east coast and curled around its southern tip before striking the west coast below Colombo, the capital.

Mr. Rinker noted that the giant wave still had enough energy by the time it impacted the west coast--the lee side of the island--to plough several hundred meters inland, sweeping away concrete houses, railway stations and rail tracks, bridges, and other structures.

ADB is readying emergency assistance for Sri Lanka that will help both the northeast – where over 60% of the damage was inflicted – and the south.

Each thumbnail below links to a larger photograph.

Bob Rinker (center) and Janeesha Samarasekera (right) talk to people whose houses were washed away at Moratuwa.	Children on the beach at Moratuwa, where scores of families were rendered homeless.	The tsunami damaged part of Paiyagala railway station and its tracks.
Workmen beginning to repair the damage at Paiyagala railway station	Repair work starts on railway lines at Paiyagala rail station that were bent out of shape by the tsunami.	A mother and daughter in front of their ruined home at Paiyagala South.
Even these concrete sleepers at Ambalangoda were unable to stand up to the force of the tsunami.	A new bailey bridge is already in place after the old bridge and part of the embankment were washed away near Ambalangoda.	This backhoe/loader faces a massive job in clearing the debris near Telwatte rail station.
Put back on the track is the train that was derailed by the second giant wave at Telwatte, killing an estimated 1,200 people.	Surveying the devastation at Hikkaduwa harbor.	Damaged fishing boats piled up at Hikkaduwa harbor.
Photos by Ian Gill, Principal External Relations Specialist, ADB

Previous photo essay | Next photo essay

Tsunami Response