Tsunami Aftermath in Penang: Survivor Tale


The calm sea of Teluk Kumbar 4 days after the tsunami.

At the Teluk Kumbar fishing village, the sea suddenly retreated. And then it came back rushing ferociously and unceasingly up the beach. There was no time to think but react on the most basic human instinct of fight or flight. She chose flight, with the angry advancing sea in hot pursuit behind her. It overtook her in no time. The debris and silt that got washed up by the waves made the escape treacherous and difficult. She ran into her house which was barely 50 meters from the shoreline at the highest tide. Sea water gushed into the house inundating anything and everything that was on its way. Fortunately the front wall of her house weakened the force of the waves. She escaped with no injury.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

6 thoughts on “Tsunami Aftermath in Penang: Survivor Tale”

  1. Peter

    Although she may not bare physical injuries,i pray she has strength to overcome the trauma.

    The candle reminds me of a poem ,i am sure i sent to you some time ago.
    Im off to zzzzland tcz gn gb

  2. Sweetspirit,
    She is truly grateful to be safe although she lost a lot of things that got coated and soiled by the silt.

    Lilian,
    Thank you.

  3. Sadly Peter
    Theives and opportunists take advantage of others.
    There was at time i had moved from a refuge
    into a home,i had just bought tv video ect on hire purchase.I decided to take my children to visit relatives upon returning all my electrical goods ect where stolen.I never took out household insurance .I learnt a valuable lesson
    also that was the part of the reason i then moved to Newcastle.

    They say in oz that nive times outta ten ,when one has goods stolen it is usually from and aquaintence or friend.That is sadly true anyway
    lets hope that others continue to give to those affected ,and try make this world a better place.

    tcz gb

  4. Sweetspirit,
    The survivor is related to my cousin Peter’s wife. We went to visit her to see how she is.

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