I volunteered for four months in Thailand, actually in Khao Lak where one of the interviewees was. I can not even begin to describe what it was like there, both in physical devastation and emotional (no word in English to describe). I was very fortunate to not be present during the tsunami, but have talked to many who were, and have felt second hand the pain, grief and horror that has encompassed those involved. During the one year anniversary, almost a year ago from now, the emotional feeling was palpable in the air: again, indescribible.
The magnitude of this event can not be rationalized; and yet, I feel hope from reading the comments on this page regarding people realizing how lucky we are to live where we live. I have also been to Pakistan to assist in Earthquake relief efforts, and to hear people here state how lucky we are is encouraging.
One thing to remember, we can make a difference with very little effort. Our money goes so much further in Asia, so please consider donating to help someone less fortunate. There are many organizations that do a lot of great work, and for very little money you can really influence someone's life.
My thoughts go out to those who will be recognizing a horrendous 2nd anniversary December 26th.
Mike Morris

Thank you for Untold Stories. It is really upsetting to hear these touching stories but we need to. I often also wonder why Hurricane Katrina still gets so much coverage and attention and the tsunami very little. I have a 4 month old son and cannot imagine, nor do I want to even try, what the European couple have gone through when losing their young son. I broke down so hard when they aired the picture of the sons on the bed, with the little one looking so angelic, and happy. It is just so so sad and I hate that we cannot do anything to help other people's grief....

I had watched this previously and it still gives me a heavey heart to watch again. At the time of the Tsunami there had been a similar toll in Sudan except that people in Sudan are going through life threating ordeals on a daily basis. It seems there is less coverage on the issues in Sudan than leadership conventions. We need to stirke a balance here.

Sobering to say the least. To see the power unleached and imense devistation caused leaves one stunned. The detailed individual stories leave you touched. If you are not affected by this, you don't have a pulse.

I enjoyed hearing the personal experiences of persons that went through this trajedy but was unable to read the final comments under the characters as the print was not legible. Story book with the last page missing.

Fifth Estate, thank you for your re-visit to the events of this tragedy. In the months following Boxing Day of 2004, the world was stunned by an outpouring of love toward the victims and survivors of this disaster. My research of the earthquake and susbsequent tsunami began when, while at the cottage with my family for a holiday break, I began to realise that we in the West are insulated to a shameful degree from things that happen elsewhere in the world. As the news began to trickle through to us while we ate our holiday leftovers, my family and I bagan to understand that there are people in this world whose lives were being forever altered in ways we could not imagine. In my book Gold And Fishes covering the 30 day period after the tsunami, I used extensive International news coverage to attempt to document the true events that occured within the framework of a fictional story. It is important that we not forget the magnitute of this disaster, nor the enormous potential that exists in each of us to reach out with love and help.

My heart crumbles everytime I watch footage about that tragic day. The awesome power of mother nature took everything and changed the world. My heart goes out to all those beautiful countries and people that lost everything. My prayers goes out to those that suffered and the brave children that live on.

I just finished watching Tsunami: Untold Stories and immediately felt drawn to the computer to submit a comment. It is rare that I feel the need to comment on television programming, but after watching this moving documentary, I wanted to express my thanks for putting together this series of accounts in such a tasteful way. The absence of a narrator, overly dramatic music and hokey dramatizations was appreciated. In omitting some of these standard elements, the survivors were able to share their horrifying stories in an obscured way. Thank you for not letting the viewers forget the unfathomable amount of lives that were deeply affected by this unprecedented modern day disaster.

I cried as I watched Thannis Sinnathamby talk about losing his mom and sisters in the Tsunami...poor boy. I wish I could write him. I have twin sons his age and the thought of him feeling depressed breaks my heart.

I have long wondered why the New Orleans flood got so much news coverage and the Tsunami in Asia so little. Thank you 5th Estate for these stories.

Thank you for the " Tsunami untold stories".
My sister, her husband and their four children were on Hong Island that day and they all survived.
My sister spent one month at the hospital after being repatriated on Dec 30th 2004. She and her second oldest son were badly injured. My sister told me that only the people that were in the tsunami understand what they went through. Some of the people who were on Hong Osland that day have written messages on www.andamanonline.com/gallery/photos/HongIsland.php

Diane St-Jean

I'm sitting here in my safe and warm home watching (re watching) the horror of the tsunami, I'm grateful to the fifth estate for reminding me of how lucky we are, I'm horrified what memories people must live with, my heart goes out to the families who lost, I want to sit those people complaining about 'not having'or 'wanting more' down to watch this and see how they truly feel about their lives. Why does it take reminders for us? We are fortunate and spoiled. I have just revisted my christmas wish list. I hope other do the same.