In December 2004, many escape the dreary winter
for the warm sands of Thailand. Everyone basks without imagining
for a single second, these idyllic landscapes are destined
to vanish beneath a colossal wave. It is going to result
in thousands of deaths. In 2004, Christian Patureau
turned 35 years old. He lands on the island of Kho Phi Phi
on December 23rd accompanied by a group of friends. So, I believe it was right above. My room was supposed to be
right in the background, And behind, there was a bay window
offering a view of the mountain beyond. In the tropical warmth of Asia,
it was a truly wonderful moment. I was single. It was a relatively carefree time
when I had a close circle of friends. It was really enjoyable. Thailand, in December,
is like a picture postcard. You envision the azure sky,
the sand, the sea, the laziness, the relaxation. This truly is
a picture-perfect destination. On December 25, 2004, Bruno Lartigue and his family establish
their residence on the island of Phuket. The view from their hotel
is absolutely stunning, but they're a little disappointed. The chosen accommodation
is somewhat unplanned. Several weeks ahead, we're having difficulty
finding a beachfront hotel. So the hotel that is found
is somewhat secluded, after all. Atop a cliff
with a sweeping view of the sea. Fate or Fortune, at that moment,
Bruno Lartigue had no inkling that the day following his arrival, on December 26, this hotel he finds
to be too far from the beach, will save them. 500 kilometers off the coast
of Indonesia, One of the greatest natural disasters
in history is looming. Simultaneously,
along the coasts of Sri Lanka, In Midigama, beautiful waves
bring smiles to three friends. One must admit,
they are fulfilling a childhood dream: Make a living from their passion. On December 25, 2004, David, Guillaume, and Fabien
are launching their surf school and their new laid-back lifestyle. Go surfing, check out the waves,
see if it's all good. After that, breakfast. -More surfing.
-More surfing. We kicked off
with a surf session regardless. A few kilometers away
from the three friends, Anne Escola and her husband
are also on their surfboard. The surfer duo arrived
with their two children. Even if they are enjoying themselves
with the elephants, Corentin and Baptiste
are a bit angry with Santa, who refused to carry their toys
to the farthest corners of the world. Indeed, they grumble a bit since we are
somewhat restricted by the luggage, we hadn't brought all the gifts
that were promised on Santa Claus's list. But it's still a Christmas
for the privileged. But I don't think
they ultimately perceive it. An Idyllic Holiday, which will take a completely
different course in 36 hours. Anne Escola and her family
are about to endure a nightmare. Everyone found themselves
at the epicenter of the greatest cataclysm
of the early century. This is something you only see
in disaster movies. It's surreal The sea has wiped the slate clean. I see my house disappearing
into the water. In the blink of an eye,
it's chaos, it's absolute hell. They have endured the unimaginable. A tsunami of extraordinary strength. I am taken away in a car, gas bottles clashing together,
an array of various debris. Like a drum in a washing machine, and you find yourself swept up
in this sort of swirling motion. Thanks to the holiday films
from the tourists we discovered, You are going to re-experience
the tragedy minute by minute. Did you see the fishermen's boat? He is being flipped over!
What is it? With 3D, you will understand
the reason why, the 2004 tsunami took the lives
of over 230,000 people. People were yelling inside the houses. People who are walking and
who are still worse off than you are. Perhaps that's when you realize
that you are a survivor. 15 years have elapsed,
yet no one has forgotten their fears, their sufferings. And the remarkable survival instinct
that enabled them to emerge alive. These are moments
that remain etched in your mind. I owe reverence to those
who didn't make it. Few people have looked death
directly in the eyes. I looked her in the eyes and said,
"No, it's not my turn." From Thailand to Sri Lanka,
French survivors share the hell they went through. In December, in the Indian Ocean, Thailand serves as a paradise. And the island of Kho Phi Phi
as the Gardens of Eden. At the heart, a slender stretch of land
encircled by idyllic beaches. One and a half kilometers long
and 200 meters wide, that houses the village, its shops, and most hotels. During Christmas 2004,
it welcomed close to 5000 tourists. That year, Jean-Louis Caccomo
was among them, professor of economics
at the University of Bangkok, Thailand. For this holiday season,
he invited his wife and son Robin. whom he hasn't seen for months. In the hotel, the staff is costumed
as Santa Claus. They are dressed in red and have beards. Spending Christmas on the other side
of the world is incredible, especially when you're 10 years old, In the beginning,
we are not aware of where we are. We are not aware of the complete change
in our usual environment. Kho Phi Phi Island is not
solely populated by tourists. Some French people have left everything
to set up souvenir shops, restaurants, Hotels, but not limited to them. Some live comfortably off their savings,
like Philippe Polakowski. After years of managing
an ambulance service, The business owner is taking
a break from his life to spend quality time
with his wife and daughter. In Koh Phi Phi, we wore Thai trousers
and walked around barefoot. We used to fish from dawn to dusk. We were living a local lifestyle. We weren't tourists,
we weren't settled individuals. We weren't conducting business there,
we were merely there for exploration. We can't wait for the party! Celebrate Christmas
with a beachside barbecue, still,
it's always something extraordinary. On the coastline,
on December 24th in Kaoh Lak, All 320 rooms at the Magic Lagoon Resort
are fully occupied. Scores of French families
celebrate their holidays there. Géraldine Tessier and her husband
are on their honeymoon. This trip to Thailand is a part
of their wedding present. It's one of the most stunning hotels
I've ever encountered in my life and an entrance featuring white stairs. The reception area is accessible
and offers a view of the park. featuring a pool that spans
14,000 square meters. The rooms provided
immediate access to the water, somewhat akin to the canals in Venice. It's a fantastic, and peaceful place. Very chic, utterly luxurious, with
exotic greenery scattered everywhere. The hotel had opened
a few months earlier. The first Christmas celebrations
should be unforgettable for tourists. On the evening of the 25th,
we dine by candlelight, We enjoy champagne
with strawberry slices. After dessert, we all head to the beach. Santa Claus arrives
with his sack full of gifts. The children are elated,
brimming with joy, with a release of glowing lanterns
into the sky to celebrate Christmas. It's truly idyllic. While everyone is reveling in joy,
a dreadful countdown has commenced. In less than 12 hours, one of the greatest natural disasters
in history, is about to fall
on this corner of paradise. The crisis unfolds 700 kilometers away
from Thailand, in Indonesia. On December 26, 2004,
in the island of Sumatra, The city of Banda Aceh
is gradually waking up when at 7:58 am, the earth is quaking. It is the third most powerful earthquake
in recorded history. 9.2 on the Richter scale. Its epicenter is situated off the coast
of the city. At a depth of 30 kilometers, beneath the Earth's crust,
a clash of titans is unfolding. The Indian tectonic plates to the left, Asians on the right have been in conflict
for over four centuries. When the Asian tectonic plate
gains dominance, the energy unleashed is immense. 12,000 times more powerful
than the Hiroshima atomic bomb. When the earthquake subsides,
a portion of the city lies in ruins. Everyone believes
that the worst is behind us. They are mistaken. The shock wave triggered a tsunami. It travels at the speed
of a commercial airliner: 800 kilometers per hour. In 38 minutes, a colossal wave
will strike Indonesia. We were all immersed in prayer, fervently hoping for everything
to come to an end. So, we got up, exited our homes,
and no one was anxious. There was absolutely no panic. Families untouched by the earthquake
are even taking advantage of the beach. They will be the initial victims
of the tsunami. Cut Putri is a physician in Banda Aceh. That morning, she captured footage
of her family preparing to depart for a cousin's wedding. When all hear a strange noise. And suddenly, it began
to intensify like that: "Wooooooo". Then my father began to shout loudly:
"Hurry, everyone to the second floor!" And suddenly, I saw the wave. She arrived like that,
like a very dark wall. The young woman and her family
barely have enough time to seek refuge. Cut Putri continues to film. The 20-meter wave obliterates
everything in its path. Neither anything nor anyone
can resist it. Two kilometers inland,
the waves still measure 10 meters high. -I believed it was my final hour,
my last day. The quickest ones managed
to seek refuge on the roofs. Others have had the fortune
of encountering this shifting floor. It is composed of thousands of debris
carried by the raging waves. And they were crying out to us,
"Please, help us!" But we were powerless to do anything. We told them, "We are sorry, truly sorry,
but there is nothing we can do." "You must entrust yourself to God." God remains deaf to their prayers. The fury of the ocean persists. 20 minutes later, a second wave surfaces. It is not as tall as the first one, but this time, it penetrates
up to 5 km into the city. The wave stands just over a meter tall,
but its power is phenomenal. Within a matter of minutes,
the city of Banda Aceh was obliterated. The impact is severe, very severe. Almost 100,000 fatalities. Satellite images captured before
and after the tsunami serve as a testament to this. Half of the city has been obliterated
from the map. Now, the lethal tsunami is bearing down
on Thailand and Sri Lanka. These countries are completely unaware
of the unfolding drama. There is no tsunami alert center
in the Indian Ocean. In less than 2 hours,
their ribs will be struck in turn. In the bay of Mirissa, Anne Escola, her husband Stephen,
and their two kids, Baptiste, 7 years old,
and Corentin, 3 years old, they have rented a bungalow
right by the water. They've been living in a dreamlike state
for a week. But on December 26, at the moment
when the tsunami destroys the town of Banda Aceh, Anne Escola goes on vacation
for the first time, doesn't feel very well upon waking up. -My husband goes surfing
without waking me up, but it's just around 7 am. I was slightly unwell, and I wasn't feeling too well,
so I ended up lounging around, and I lingered in the room a bit longer, and I didn't hurry to go for lunch. I stayed a little longer,
waiting for the children to wake up. Oddly enough, at the same moment, 2,000 kilometers away, on the island
of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand, Robin Caccomo,
who was 10 years old at the time, and his father, too,
experienced a restless awakening. As they slumber peacefully
in their hotel room, they feel the tremors. -In the morning, we feel the earthquake. They wake us up. A considerably violent
and extremely abrupt earthquake. What was astonishing was the absence
of any receptionists or employees. and everyone appeared to be normal. No one appeared to be worried. And understandably so,
they are among the few individuals who experienced the earthquake. which has just occurred in Indonesia,
700 kilometers away from Thailand. In their own unique ways, Robin Caccomo and Anne Escola seem to share
the same premonition. And they are not alone. On the beach of Kaoh Lak,
in his five-star hotel, even the comfort of his own room, fails to alleviate the unease
that Géraldine Tessier is experiencing. The young bride experienced nightmares
all night long. -A terribly restless night filled
with strange dreams that jolt you awake, we believe we are seeing things. At any rate, I didn't sleep
particularly well that night, but without understanding the reason. And the following morning,
we wake up around 8, 8:30 a.m. We are going to enjoy an early breakfast
at the restaurant. Around 9:30 am, half an hour
before the lethal wave hits, the couple, akin to the other tourists, ignore the strange phenomenon
occurring on the beach. The sea recedes hundreds of meters. Vacationers,
just like the locals in Thailand, seize the opportunity
to retrieve fish trapped in water holes. No one suspects a thing. but the receding sea is a precursor
to an imminent tsunami. The earthquake triggered
a 1000-kilometer collapse of the seabed, and almost 6 meters high. The water is drawn into the hole
before forcefully surging upwards. Out in the open sea,
the tsunami is undetectable. Just a slight ripple. For divers, it's a whole different story. Bruno Lartigue,
a Parisian firefighter on vacation, had arrived the day before
on the island of Phuket with his wife and his two children On the morning of December 26, he was at sea, an hour away
from the coast with his diving club. -The sky is azure, the ocean is serene. From 9:00 to 9:30 am,
we arrive at the diving sites. We gear up for the dive,
then we plunge in. And swiftly, the descent proves
to be somewhat challenging. We are so jostled in the currents, that we don't have the time to observe
what's happening around us. As if you're envisioning
a washing machine drum, which is spinning and you are entangled
in this sort of circular motion. The captain of the ship
urgently orders us to get back on board. And we are unaware of what is happening. When he climbed back onto the boat,
it was 10 am. In 10 minutes, the tsunami
will strike the island of Phuket. At the Kamala Beach Hotel,
a couple awakens. Charlotte and Grant
arrived two days prior. -I'm about to take a shower. Grant is lying on the bed, waiting. And it's at the moment of stepping
into my shower, that I begin to hear an unfamiliar noise, a deafening noise that I cannot identify. And then, I notice a small amount
of water seeping in under the door. I cross the room to open a French door, which leads to a small terrace
we had on the ground floor. And then, actually,
I just saw a wall of water. The strength of water
is beyond imagination. More than 1000 tons per cubic meter. Some tourists, captivated, are filming. Situated less than 50 meters
from the seaside, Charlotte's room absorbs
the full force of the wave. It shatters her door. Water rushes in through the door. -Grant was ahead
and he truly got drawn in. It's somewhat like a siphon. It's such a powerful force,
such intense violence. The only thing on my mind is:
"I need to go out and find Grant." But in the end,
I too find myself getting drawn in. It's terrible because I couldn't tell up
from down anymore. I am completely-- It's a laundry machine. I can't breathe,
I'm completely at a loss, and I finally manage, by chance,
to keep my head above water. I managed to cling
onto a palm tree, a tiny palm tree
and Grant on another one nearby. Both of us perched on our palm trees,
awaiting the end of this wave, to prevent ourselves
from being swept away into uncertainty. After 5 minutes, the sea becomes calm. In hotels, the tourists are stunned. Everyone is looking for their loved ones. They won't have the time for it. Much like in Indonesia, a second wave
takes everyone by surprise. This British couple is clinging
desperately onto the handrail. A Swedish tourist
attempts to assist them. But it's already too late. Everyone clings on as best they can. Amidst the two waves, Charlotte and her boyfriend managed
to seek refuge at a height of 10 meters, on the balcony of a house. Nevertheless,
they still have their feet in the water. - And now, it's extremely difficult. I once entered the water,
and I have no desire to return. I don't want to get drawn back into it
and let it consume me. And the water level is rising. And this is
the most difficult moment for me. Because I am certain
that I will meet my end at that moment. Charlotte's fear is not only rooted
in the current, but also in the debris. Sheet metal, sun loungers,
refrigerators, chairs. With the power of water, ordinary objects
can turn into lethal weapons. In this diabolical washing machine, The young woman
was cut in several places. Some wounds run deep. -It was at that moment that I realized
I was indeed quite injured. My toes are almost cut off, because they dangle near my left foot,
the two in the middle. I have deep cuts all over,
especially on my legs. And I hadn't even noticed,
I felt nothing. Another pain adds to her existing one. Charlotte is now taking refuge
on a roof with other survivors. Everyone fears a third wave. For them, a prolonged ordeal begins. It's 40 degrees, the tiles are scorching. So to shield yourself
from the sun's heat, some muster the courage
to go down to the rooms to fetch towels. -We find ourselves on this roof
for hours on end. I tore the shirt, which was completely soaked,
because Grant had no hair. It was extremely hot. I put half of a shirt on his head
and the other half on mine. And now, we wait. It's pandemonium, it's infernal,
it's unrecognizable. And it's indeed no longer paradise,
it's hell. Even though the damage is substantial, the island of Phuket
has been relatively unscathed. The mountainous topography
has safeguarded the population. Nothing to do with the island
of Koh Phi Phi, not even with the beach of Khao Lak. These two locations lack any form
of natural protection. The massacre is underway. Five minutes following Phuket, the tsunami is set
to devastate Koh Phi Phi. On the island, all dwellings
are clustered on this stretch of land, merely 200 meters wide. On the morning of December 26, 2004, businesses are gradually opening
their doors. It should be stated that the authorities on the island have not received
any warnings. Tourists meander through a maze
of narrow alleyways. It's quaint,
but it mostly resembles a trap. The sea flanks both sides,
mere meters away. However, nobody can see it. Around 10 am, Christian Patouraux
and his friends return to their room, after having breakfast. -It was relaxed, we were comfortable, we told ourselves we were about to leave. We were leisurely taking our time. Meanwhile, the wave was approaching. We weren't aware of it. Ultimately, if Christian Patouraux
and his friends had paid attention, they would certainly have realized that something out of the ordinary
was happening. A phenomenon
that Jean-Louis Caccomo also noticed. He observes that nature has transformed. - It was absolute silence. A Sicilian proverb is often quoted:
"The calm before the storm." That's exactly it.
The silence frightened me. The animals perceived the danger. The elephants used for tourist rides
are extremely nervous. -Very early in the morning,
the elephants started to trumpet. They were in tears,
and we couldn't understand why. -Calm down! Take it easy! Calm down, take it easy. The elephants began to break their chains
and ascend the hill. -I think that elephants knew,
just like the other animals. I believe they can interpret
the signs of nature. Had I not tried to catch up with them,
I could possibly be dead. If I'm alive today, it's because of them. Aside from the animals,
the island is steeped in tranquility. The Caccomo family is preparing
to depart from Kho Phi Phi. Before leaving,
Robin wants to take one last swim. His father declines,
fearing he might miss the boat. But most importantly,
the sea unnerves him. -He's actually preventing me
from going for a swim, and I believe I'm having a breakdown. You're making a scene! I'm making a fuss
because I really want to swim, and you observe something. We notice that the sea level
has significantly receded. The hotel was approximately
a hundred meters away from the beach, and you can see the water that has retreated
several hundred meters. I inquire,
"Are there tides in the Indian Ocean?" They respond to me,
"No, we've never seen that before." I tell Robin,
"Don't go swimming, it's not right." Feeling uneasy, Jean-Louis Caccomo
and his son returned to the hotel. Robin's caprice just saved their lives. The time is 10:15. In 5 minutes, the tsunami will flatten
the center of the island. At this moment, on the beach, a Swedish tourist
is capturing his partner on film, surprised to see the boats
beached on the sand. Then when the sea rises again,
they are completely taken aback. There aren't any waves, but they can sense the strength
it radiates through their legs. Under the strength of the current,
the first pontoon collapses. A swimmer struggles to keep going. Simultaneously,
French tourists aboard a ferry, capture the sea as it churns with power. "Stop panicking!
Are you kidding me? Look at the water! What's the issue with the water? Take a look at the water's color.
It's not normal! It's brown. -You remember the brown water we saw.
-Exactly, it was just like that! Can you picture
the people swimming over there? Look, see how it's boiling now! 10:18 a.m. Philippe Polakowski comes home,
his arms laden with groceries. And the moment I set my bag
of ice cubes down on the ground, the earth begins to quake. And a muffled noise begins. It sounded like something out of style,
"Brrrr" And at the exact same moment, I hear a shout behind me:
"Nâ maleo!" It means the water is arriving. At 10:20 a.m., the tsunami strikes. From his home, Philippe sees nothing. He only hears the screams of people. Without being aware of what's happening, he requests his wife to flee
with their daughter, while he retrieves their savings. I had a small amount of money
that I had hidden away, in my fake ceiling. I enter the room, I asked myself, "Philippe, where did you stash
some of your things in the ceiling?" Was it to the left, to the right?
This or that? And just as I begin to ponder, a soft voice whispers to me,
"Philippe, flee, there's no time left." I follow my instinct, I run away. All these people who are running,
falling, the others who step on each other's toes. I turn around, I am looking at my house. that collapses like a house of cards, that disappears into the water. But rather than seeing the beach
or the streets behind, I actually see the water level
that is all around. Come inside quickly! The Caccomo family is securely settled
in their hotel room on the first floor. The water level is notably below
the platform by several centimeters. It's astounding
and you observe what's happening Personally, I didn't want to stay there. The electricity cuts out
when I press the switch. The pylons that collapse,
diving bottles-- Individuals who had successfully
emerged from the water, get hit in the face with scuba tanks. So this idyllic and pleasant place
is actually hell. On his part,
with death breathing down his neck, Philippe Polakowski is running
as fast as he possibly can. He is attempting to reach this mountain. However, access is blocked. And I run alongside a barbed wire fence. Every second counts at this moment, And I'm fortunate enough to have
a small one-meter gap between two posts. Among these barbed wires,
there is a small gap of one meter. I wedge myself into this narrow passage. I was completely out of breath,
utterly exhausted. I began to climb the hill,
but my legs gave out on me. So I ascended
and people assisted me in climbing up. And then I think to myself:
"Damn, Philippe! Look at the velocity of the wave. If your wife and daughter
are still ahead, they are dead. They are doomed." Especially when, once you're up there, he realizes that the heart of the island
has vanished. Beside him are the tourists, who had the brilliant idea that morning
to ascend and marvel at the sunrise. Everyone realizes their chance. It's dangerous! It's wreaking havoc on everything! A Frenchman records the catastrophe. We are safe, we fear nothing. Look! Behold Koh Phi Phi! After five minutes, the water ceased to flow. The entire lower level of the island
was submerged. Silence prevails,
the only sound that remains, It might be the few people
who are trapped in the hammocks. People are crying out for help
in every language, "I need help!" We cannot go and assist them. With a group of other tourists,
Jean-Louis Caccomo, his wife, and son are trapped in their room
on the first floor of the hotel. Everyone is paralyzed by the fear
of an even more severe second wave. But Jean-Louis's instinct urges him
to flee at all costs. The lobby is too crowded,
so he takes the balcony route. Once on land, the family
ran towards the mountain, which, fortunately,
is located right next door. I'm not sure if you remember,
but you said to me: "We're going to die." When you hear your son telling you that-- Personally, from a logical perspective,
I don't see how we can escape from this. But I'm not going to tell him
that we are going to die. "No, you're not going to die,
you're going to run." And he run. I remember this very painful climb, because there is no trail, we have no shoes,
yet we sprint at full speed. What is particularly disturbing
at the moment, It's that we feel neither pain
nor fatigue. We do not understand. But there's only one goal,
and that's to run. So, we aren't thinking about anything. At the summit of the mountain, tourists continue to capture
these apocalyptic scenes. I can no longer film
because I'm shaking so much. The Caccomo family will not have
the chance to fear again. She doesn't notice the second wave
striking the island during her climb. My goodness!
Look, the wave is approaching! Don't remain there! I hope no one remained outside! Oh my god! Be careful! I see televisions,
mattresses submerged in the water. Hope everyone got out of it! It's all down. The surge claims even more lives
when it arrives from the South. while everyone keeps an eye on the North,
from where the first wave emerged. In fact, when the second wave hit, it did nothing
but cover the last survivors. And when there are
no longer people crying out, "Help," We plunge into absolute silence. We are on an island
and it's 10:30 in the morning. and the day ahead is going to be long. When the sea recedes, Philippe sets out on a journey
to find his wife and daughter. Before he settled in Thailand,
he was employed as a paramedic. The deceased and the wounded frequently
constituted his everyday reality. But nothing had prepared him
for the horror that was to come. Why? The tidal wave is not yet finished
with Thailand. The remainder of the wave is now heading
directly towards the coast of Kaoh Lak, where numerous French individuals
spend their holidays. This is the final region in the nation
to be impacted. This is where the most fatalities
will occur. This coast has a unique feature
that will intensify the tsunami. In Kaoh Lak,
there is very limited seabed. So, when it arrives, the front of the wave decelerates while
the rear propels forward at high speed. Consequently, the water ascends,
swelling into a formidable wall. The tsunami struck Kaoh Lak, just a few seconds
after the second wave hit Koh Phi Phi. 9:30 AM. At the hotel, Géraldine Tessier
and her husband are having their breakfast. Despite the celebrations
from the day before, the room is already filled. On the morning of the breakfast,
the 26th, all the families who had dined with us
were present. On the evening of the 25th, the father,
the mother, and the three, four, or five children. It was serene, people were unhurried. I recall a woman who created
an uproar with the waiter, because we weren't permitted to bring
a coffee cup to the beach. And so, it was the morning row
for something very trivial She departed nonetheless, with her coffee
in hand, lounging on her beach chair. In Kaoh Lak, the sea receded
almost 900 meters. As depicted in the holiday film
of this German family, The weather is lovely and dozens
of other parents on the beach. It's 10 in the morning. The wave will arrive in 36 minutes. Géraldine and her husband,
on the other hand, left to wait for the hotel shuttle
to head into town. We are in the hotel lobby and-- absolutely nothing is going on. It's peaceful, no hint of panic,
nothing at all. Everything is fine. At 10:30 am,
the husband from the German family notices a massive wave
approaching from afar. It's turning violent!
Look at how the waves are crashing! While on the beach, everyone continues
to puzzle over this curious phenomenon, the fishermen, and the owner of the restaurant
that has a panoramic view of Kaoh Lak, they are aware of the impending tragedy. The restaurateur is attempting
to warn the tourists. I shouted, "Leave, run fast!" But nobody believed me. So, I was at a loss for what to do next. I waved my shirt and shouted again: "Go, run! Escape quickly!" No one can hear him. Everyone remains captivated by the show. Only the Thai people eventually
realize the danger and begin to run. The tsunami initially strikes
the upper part of the beach. This gentleman
should have departed earlier. The sea is approaching quickly! This is unprecedented,
it's the first time ever in Thailand. The young German tourist
and his family still aren't fleeing. He and his wife are seemingly mesmerized. Did you see the fisherman's boat? He is being turned around! What is this? What is this? When they emerge from their lethargy, they leave running. They will have just the right amount
of time to climb a hill. Yes, I'm coming! 3 kilometers further, Géraldine and her husband
have only just arrived in town. Along the road, we heard an explosion. The sky is blue,
there's not a cloud in sight. Something isn't quite consistent. But then again, we tell ourselves:
"This must be normal." This blast is the sound of the water wreaking havoc on the coastline
and its opulent hotels. The sea level rises up to 10 meters. The ground floor and first floor
are completely flooded. The tsunami is now barreling towards
the town where Geraldine resides. We enter a beachside shop, because my husband wants
to purchase a linen shirt, and barely had I stepped into the store, we're beginning to hear screams, a stir arises and instantly,
the shopkeeper steps out of her store. She speaks and then she returns,
telling us: "Water, water, run run!" And then my husband
comes out of the store. I gaze at him,
he turns his head to the left, He grabs my hand and tells me,
"Now, you need to run. Trust me.
You must run as fast as you can." As the sea is rapidly gaining on them, Géraldine and her husband
succeed in getting into a car. At the Magic Lagoon Resort, the hotel where numerous French
enjoy their vacations, the tourists and the staff
were not as fortunate. More than 200 people
have lost their lives. The entire coast is devastated. No hotel has been left untouched. On the hill where Géraldine resides,
refugees have set up an impromptu camp. The young bride witnesses
the arrival of the first casualties. A man came in carrying
a child in his arms. And this child was nearly disfigured. He was fortunate to be rescued
from the water by this gentleman who reversed course to retrieve it, who rescued him,
who returned him to our midst. And everyone looks after this little boy. We don't know where he's coming from. And the day's small miracle is, It's because his parents
got wind of a child, who had been rescued
at a certain location. And the entire family was reunited.
They finally found their son. Everyone shed tears of joy
because even in misfortune, there were also minor miracles. -The camp of survivors!
-Yes, the camp of survivors. It's something one could never
envision in a lifetime. - You become aware--
- Of the severity of the violence, yes. Even more so now that I'm a mother. The entire Indian Ocean is affected
to varying degrees of intensity. It needs to be mentioned
that the Indonesian earthquake, created a 1000-kilometer long fault. Hence, the resulting shock wave
is of this magnitude. And it progresses at the speed
of a commercial jet: 800 kilometers per hour. It hit Sri Lanka just 10 minutes
after reaching Kaoh Lak. But in contrast to Thailand, The immense depth of the seabed
surrounding its coastlines conceals the sea's recession. On that day, at 9:15 AM, Yannick, a French surfing instructor, is at the beach with his students. At 9:30 am,
he is one of the few who realizes, that something is not quite right. I gaze upon the shoreline
and notice how slowly, with every wave,
the tide increases by 15-30 cm. I begin to ponder, telling myself:
"But that's utterly impossible." And now,
I turn my attention back to my students, I tell them, "You are paddling far out,
never leaving your surfboards." "Go as far away as possible
and wait for me." Yannick believes
it's an unforeseen high tide. He just saved their lives. However, he rushes towards his driver
and friend, Acalanca. I see that the water is starting to rise I tell myself: “I must absolutely inform
my driver so he can depart.” I don't have the time,
I'm caught up in the current. I am thrust against a tree
by the force of water. My board curls around and as it ascends,
it propels me upwards. I cling to the top and there, The water begins to overflow
onto the road towards the houses. 6 km away from Yannick, in her beachfront bungalow, Anne Escola is alone
with her two children. Her husband had gone surfing
a few hours earlier. I see the sea encroaching on the garden. It felt a bit odd to me, and my immediate reaction
was to secure us inside the bungalow. In fact, the time it takes to do that, there are two young individuals
from the guest house hurriedly rushed in, who unlocked the door, and who told us in English: "Go, go!" They have taken the children. and the time to somewhat realize that-- there was a massive wave
engulfing the bungalow, I am taken away in a car, gas bottles clashing against each other, the furnishings of the guest house, all kinds of debris, people shrieking. Despite Anne's best efforts
to fight back, after several minutes, the force of the water separates her
from her two children. I hear my eldest son, Baptiste,
who is 7 years old, crying. I'm attempting to reach him,
but I'm unable to. I am trapped between a cow and a car. And then, I see Baptiste managing
to grasp onto a sort of small wall. He ascends it, he mounts it,
and everything crumbles. He is swept away again. And now, I'm slightly able
to--not join him. but to maintain a constant distance
of approximately 50 meters. At the age of 7, Baptiste bravely battled
against the current. Anne attempts to reach him, But the debris swept along
by the torrent hindered his progress. She keeps her eyes locked on him,
yet panic overwhelms her. Her three-year-old second son, Corentin,
has gone missing. At the same time, across the bay,
David, Fabien, and Guillaume, the three surfer friends
are heading to the beach, when their tuk-tuk is overturned
by a mighty wave. We have absolutely no idea
what's happening. We weather another bout of rain
and find ourselves perched on a low wall, which was not far off the roadside,
and we perched ourselves on the wall, to reassure ourselves that we might
be slightly safer at a higher altitude. And then, the wall crumbles
under the impact of another wave. As the wall collapses,
each of our stories is unique. My feet are against the wall,
I draw them up, and I believe I immediately rode off
with the wave. Essentially,
I journeyed through a coconut forest, to get to a hill. And then, you arrive at an incline,
on a hillock, and on all fours, I climb. I grab a palm tree and climb up it. And now, I see the houses crumbling
like a deck of cards, and I primarily observe other palm trees
toppling one after another. And all you can think is,
"I hope mine holds up." David, meanwhile,
finds himself in a precarious situation. He was hurled
against the window of a house. I find myself on the ground floor,
clinging to the bars. The two windows close, severing my arms. I tell myself
that I cannot remain in this state, because I saw the sharp-edged tiles
looming above me. And just 2 meters from me,
lay Fabien's surfboard, which saved my life at that moment. I reclined upon it
and allowed myself to gently drift away inland, completely. Meanwhile, a bit further away, Yannick, the surfing instructor, He has lost hope of finding his friend,
the driver, alive. From his perch atop the palm tree
where he sought refuge, He watches helplessly
as the massacre unfolds before his eyes. Directly before me,
there is a tuk-tuk driver, who is shoved into the ditch. And of course, I am clinging to my tree. My brain is in complete survival mode.
I can see it drowning. There's nothing I can do
if I come down from my tree, I, too, am going to die. For what seemed like an eternity,
he watched on helplessly, to the drowning of multiple individuals
from Sri Lanka. First their terrified expressions,
then the harrowing struggle of drowning. Until the moment the gaze fades,
when life leaves the body. That was the most challenging moment. This is the hardest moment where I come to understand that people
are dying and I am powerless to stop it. Within minutes,
from Indonesia to Thailand, and in Sri Lanka, coastlines, villages,
and cities have vanished. Dreamlike landscapes yield
to fields of ruins. A harrowing journey begins
for the survivors: Searching for their lost family members. Anne Escola has at last reunited
with Baptiste, her son of 7 years old, But she is uncertain
if her husband is still alive, and Corentin, her second son,
has gone missing. Despite severe injuries to her feet,
she sets out in search of him. Realizing that Baptiste
was safe and sound, my primary concern
was centered on Corentin's survival, who, at the age of three and a half,
did not know how to swim. I began sifting through the debris, and sifted through the rubble
to search for Corentin. And that was
a particularly challenging moment. I had cuts and gashes all over my legs, but I felt nothing. Like a somewhat frantic mother
searching for her child. It's a general anesthesia,
we're unsure how to administer it. We inquire--others are searching.
We yell. We believe we have lost a child. And this, it's not possible. This is unfeasible. So, we are searching in an attempt
to gain certainty, at least recover her body. People were preventing me from searching, so I was frustrated,
I was fighting back, I was searching for his wisps
of blond hair, his light blue t-shirt. For me, it was-- It was impossible
that he could have gotten away with it. The most challenging part,
I believe, is already to internalize
a preparation for grieving. Because it is not feasible. Amidst the fields of ruins,
solidarity emerges. Sri Lankan locals are assisting her
in the search for his son. For two seemingly endless hours,
she sifted through the debris, suddenly, out of nowhere... In the end,
everyone in the village helped guide us, because there weren't
many little white ones. They led us and returned us to a house, slightly within the village. And he was there
with a young Sri Lankan girl. I'm breaking down in tears,
up until now, I hadn't truly cried. I had cried a lot,
or I can't quite remember, but now, I'm breaking down in tears. And that's what he remembers.
He doesn't comprehend. He was playing with a little girl. He hadn't noticed anything catastrophic
that might have occurred. Four hours later,
the family finally comes together. Her husband is safe. He was out at sea on his surfboard, when the tsunami struck the coastline. I believe it's one
of life's grand moments, when we all reunite, like survivors
from an unbelievable catastrophe. Right away, we recognized the privilege
of all four of us being there, to have the ability
to touch and kiss each other. I perceived it as a gift from life, the ability
to embrace Corentin in my arms, to have the chance to kiss him,
to have him still here. It was like the best of the best. Yannick, on his part, mustered the courage
to climb down from his palm tree. After witnessing the atrocities, he holds little hope
of locating his friend, the taxi driver. First, I think to myself
that my taxi driver is dead, and he's also someone
I've been acquainted with for 5 years. He's a member of the family,
not just my taxi driver. He's a friend, so I'm swimming over, in the direction
where I believe his taxi was hurled. And then, a miracle! I am happy, I find him hanging
onto a tree , shedding tears. The taxi is completely out of service,
but he is not. The fact that we found him alive
in his tree it is a relief beyond words. The surf instructor also reunites
with the students he had sent out to sea. They are all safe and sound. As for the three friends,
they are still searching for each other. Guillaume found himself deep inland. David, on the other hand,
is on a railway track. Paralyzed with fear,
I glance to the right. I'm trying to recognize a familiar face,
but I can't seem to find one. And it continues-- The notion of time did not exist
at that moment. Once all of this stops and calms down, there, you face the reality. That is to say,
two of your friends are missing, that everything around you
has been destroyed, that bodies are floating all around. Houses are demolished,
with buses set aside. This truly is the Apocalypse. After hours of aimless wandering,
they eventually find each other, very close to where the wave
swept them away. All three are in a pitiful state. We settled down, we sat down, We've somewhat catalogued our injuries. For me, it was rather terrifying. I was still missing
a decent chunk of my elbow. I had a significant open wound
on the inside of my arm. Both Fabien and Guillaume
had suffered numerous foot injuries. We took the few clothes we had on us, we attempted to bind our feet in order
to persevere and keep moving forward. Because we shouldn't have stayed
where we were. The 3 friends didn't have
to walk very far. They are gathered by monks, who will provide care and nourishment
until their repatriation, three days later. Simultaneously, 2000 km away in Thailand. On Koh Phi Phi Island, Philippe Polakowski, who sought refuge
on a mountain along with others, is searching for his wife and daughter. Immediately, I wondered if my family
still had a chance of being alive. I need to locate them on the mountain. So from there, I begin to call them
in that manner, just a bit, and to call my daughter, call my wife. Suddenly, I hear, "We're here!" I am already content to see my wife
and daughter safe and sound. I looked at her and asked, "Are you okay,
my love?" "Are you okay, my daughter?" "Yes, I'm fine." "Here, take my satchel,
take my documents. "I'm going to lend a hand
to the emergency services." Upon reaching the bottom,
Philippe is met with a scene of carnage, hundreds of people were injured
by debris and sheet metal. As a trained paramedic, he coordinates
first aid efforts with other survivors. We turned the restaurant
into something akin to a field hospital. We collected from the pharmacies, anything we could salvage
that could be of use to us. Sheets were used as bandages
to treat people. We utilized a door to fashion stretchers. We haven't lived through war, but I imagine
it's akin to a bomb going off, and that we truly feel somewhat forsaken
since we had no assistance. I recall being introduced to a stranger,
who I believe was Swedish, who arrived with a smile at the door, the cleanly severed leg, bone, everything. The blood that splattered up
to the ceiling, and I heard: "Philippe, hurry up!" I thought to myself,
"But what on earth is that?" I wasn't seeking gloves
or anything of that sort. I clamped the artery, tied a knot,
and applied a tourniquet. I clamped an artery with my fingers. An exceptional calmness that undoubtedly
saved the life of the Swedish tourist. On the other side of the island, Christian and his friends stumbled
upon unprecedented luck, to be situated in their hotel room
on the third floor, when the island was engulfed
by the two waves. This place was littered with debris,
as far as I can recall. Fear of a third one pushes them out
and towards the mountains. On the path, there are so many injured
that Christian, the engineer, becomes a makeshift war doctor
on the spot. There was a Thai man
who had cuts so deep, I felt like I could see his ribs.
He had three to four substantial gashes in his back, angled in such a way, I applied sanitary pads to him, using the adhesive side
to cover his wounds, because it's the only thing
I was able to find. Christian and his friends find themselves
swept up in the tide of refugees who reach the island's highest points. 4000 survivors
are sharing a plot of land. The heat is stifling. There isn't any water. So, despite rumors of a third wave, Christian decides to turn back. I didn't want to spend my night
amidst mosquitoes and snakes. So, my group and I decided
to head back down to the hotel. But many people have chosen
to spend the night in the hills. In total, three temporary camps
have been established. Jean-Louis Caccomo,
his wife, and their son Robin are carving out a place for themselves
as best they can. 300 at the peak of the mountain,
that's quite a crowd, but they are the ones who survived. And we need to find a place to sit.
It seems never-ending. A couple of times throughout the night, We hear a woman scream and suddenly,
she shouts: "Big wave!" And then, people climb up into the trees, Actually, a snake had slithered
across the woman's legs. Snakes and insects are ubiquitous,
so one must learn to coexist with them. They are not domestic animals. Under normal circumstances,
one should not approach wild animals, but now, they are afraid.
And now we are at home. Two individuals will succumb
to snake bites in the night. On the early morning of December 27th, along the Thai coast and its islands, The survivors leave their refuge
in a desperate hurry to escape. Now, we begin to understand.
There, we turn our heads to the right... We first notice the bodies,
sprawled and shrouded on the ground. The air is always slightly damp,
and carries a unique fragrance. It's a somewhat acrid smell. It's a faint scent of destruction, of death, of chaos, of torment... abyss. It's a scent that lasts for a long time,
one that I cherished for a long time. This scent also carries the undertone
of thousands of lifeless bodies, which break down under the intense heat. We see children, dolls.
We can even recognize-- I recognize a toy from a child
who used to play with you. So, people cast down their eyes,
they walk softly. I don't see much. I see plenty of debris, but above all, It's the hand of my mother
before my eyes. She spent almost the entire journey
hiding her eyes from me because she said: You mustn't see, you'll be shocked,
there are dead bodies, you mustn't look. The next step is to leave Koh Phi Phi,
and that's a whole new adventure. The pier is swarmed by hundreds
of survivors. Everyone congregated
on this embankment. It's handcrafted from artisanal wood,
a delightful sight for tourists. But now, with 100 or 200 people on it,
it's bound to collapse. We see a boat that was out at sea
beginning to approach. But this boat is still quite small. Everyone is starting to shove each other,
we nearly fell into the water. Everyone was eager to board the boat,
at one point I said: There will be room,
there will be other boats. We're alright, we're not dead. Calm down.
We're not going to harm each other now. The Caccomo family didn't depart
from the island until five hours later. The most critically injured
are airlifted for evacuation. The rest are cared for onsite,
in an open-air clinic. After spending two days tending
to the injured on Koh Phi Phi Island, Philippe Polakowski reunites
with his wife on the mainland. That's when he truly comprehends
what actually transpired. We hadn't grasped the full extent,
we were unaware. I thought it was Koh Phi Phi
or somewhat like Thailand. I didn't anticipate it would be
the greatest catastrophe of the century. And perhaps that's the moment
you recognize that you're a survivor. My wife tells me,
"Call your father." I respond, "Why?" She told me, "I called him yesterday,
I informed him that you were died." So I'm reaching out to the dad. We were unable to speak. Are you ok?
It's ok. Are you heading home?
No. So, it ended just like that. I need to brush away a few tears. Philippe is returning to Koh Phi Phi. Abandoning the island's inhabitants
is out of the question for him. With the limited donations he receives,
he orchestrates food assistance. We had filmed it during that period. Nappies. We are looking after the children
and we've had some food. rice, chili,
all essential emergency food supplies. They were preparing a stew
that was primarily made of chilies, sardines with tomato sauce,
garlic, and rice. And we stirred it all together
and everyone had their own serving. We initiated the first community meal
to some extent, regarding the tsunami,
it affected 1500 - 1800 people. The tsunami left hundreds
of thousands homeless and caused an equal number of injuries. The embassies are swamped. Their evacuation needs to be managed, along with the repatriation
of the survivors. About individuals
who have either deceased or gone missing, we just can't stop counting them. But how can they be identified? Most of them were in bathing suits and didn't have
their identification on them. In an emergency, families
hastily post hundreds of photos, and the Thai authorities, those in charge
of identifying the deceased. For severely decomposed bodies,
DNA samples are collected. Now, the jewels, the tattoos, But also all sorts of personal items
serve as identification. Bruno Lartigue,
the vacationing firefighter, volunteers with the French embassy, to search for the 95 French victims. All the intricacy related to the process
of organizing healthcare, was to determine the whereabouts
of the French, to know how we were going
to identify the bodies. Because indeed, there were many. We cannot afford to be vague when you need to announce
to several families: "We are certain,
your loved one has passed away." It's the critical moment for a family, It's being able
to begin the grieving process. The survivors' memories
are forever scarred by this tragic event. Perhaps it's not
what I think about every day, But if I sit for a while,
it's always a bit what stands out, It's acknowledging that I owe respect
to those who did not survive. It is a place of contemplation
and a place of death. This isn't a place
where I'd come to enjoy myself. It's stunning, but it's a... It is a paradise
where the departed must rest in peace. Others, like Charlotte, have been carrying a heavy burden
of guilt for the past 15 years. A feeling that haunts her almost daily. It's incredibly challenging to survive.
I deemed it unfair, and I felt that there were people
who deserved to experience life more. Particularly the children. During the second wave,
I observed people passing by, including a little boy who looked me
in the eyes and reached out his hand. Deep down, I tell myself
that if I had extended my hand I could have pulled it out of the water. And I didn't even extend my hand
because I... I convince myself
that I'll be the next one, So we don't extend a helping hand,
we just let them go by. I am aware that this little boy
has passed away, so... I still see that gaze and will continue
to see it until my final breath. To me, I killed someone that day. This is what it is. And how can one resist saying this
to their nephews or those around them. But I've learned--I forgive myself. I am attempting to forgive myself,
but I find myself powerless to do so. I can't alter anything,
I have to cope with it. In Sri Lanka, Anne Escola
and her husband discovered comfort. by assisting
in the reconstruction of the village. They spent half a year there. We urgently built houses on stilts. We have also assisted some fishermen in refurbishing their fishing boats. Since 2004, the family
has almost annually made their return. 15 years later, Yannick continues
to reside in Sri Lanka, where he provides surfing lessons. He opened a boarding house, after also contributing
to the reconstruction. One should always give
without expecting to receive in return. I believe it affirmed me,
reaffirmed my belief in... in my philosophy that emphasizes
the importance of helping others, that we need to share and remember
that we are one global community. We are all brothers and sisters,
with no differences between us. In turn David, Guillaume, and Fabien took turns wielding
the shovel and trowel, to restore the houses. Today, the 3 friends
possess a new perspective on life. You come to realize that you once
had an opportunity that your life can change
from one minute to the next. All the minor issues
that everyone grumbles about daily... It's finished. To wake up and tell yourself
that a new day is beginning, and it's going to go well. And all of them are proceeding well. We're always trying
to make sure things run smoothly. Since 2004, to prevent such a catastrophe
from happening again, A tsunami alert center
has been established in the Indian Ocean. And on Thailand's beaches,
these signs have emerged. Tsunami survivors
are eternally connected to the disaster. Every day, they gauge their fortune
of still being alive. The tsunami in Sri Lanka
took the lives of 40,000 people. In Thailand, there are 8,000. In India: 16,000. And it's not finished yet. Six hours following the onset
of the earthquake, the tsunami claimed its last victims
in Kenya and Somalia 6000 kilometers away from the epicenter. In total, 230,000 individuals lost their lives, on December 26, 2004.
