14 January 2005
By Reuters



KOLHUFUSHI, Maldives (Reuters) -- Maldivian Cassim Fahim says the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 150,000 people last month saved his life.

One moment the stocky shop-owner was swept out to sea by a torrent of water that hit the coral island of Kolhufushi. Facing certain death, Fahim began reciting Islamic prayers. Then, just as suddenly, another giant wave washed him ashore to safety.

" I thank God. The tsunami took me away and then brought me back. If you think about it carefully not only did it almost kill me. It also saved my life," Fahim says, philosophically.

The Maldives, a chain of 1,200 idyllic islands straddling the equator, suffered fewer casualties than many other countries hit by the tsunami on Dec 26.

And although many survivors in this staunchly Muslim nation of 300,000 people have lost everything, most, like Fahim, appear grateful for a chance to start again. Everywhere there are signs of remarkably high spirits.

A speedboat on the pavement

Both waves that hit Fahim's island were triggered by a powerful earthquake off Sumatra. The first crashed into Kolhufushi from the east. The water then surged round the little coral island and slammed into its western coast.

Most of the low-lying Maldives escaped the full fury of the tsunami because the waves needed a bigger landmass to crest on. Some 82 people died and more than 26 are missing.

The small size of the islands meant that the first, more powerful wave simply swept through from coast to coast carrying people out to sea. But hundreds were lucky enough to catch a second wave back to shore.

"If not for this we would have had a much higher death toll," Mohamed Saeed, the deputy minister of tourism, told Reuters in the capital Male.

"THE END OF THE WORLD"

Between them, Fahim and his brother Hassan Zareer know six people who were washed back to shore alive.

Fahim was standing in the middle of Kolhufushi's main street from where he could see the ocean, now tranquil and a stunning shade of blue, on either side of the island.

"I thought it was the end of the world," Fahim said of the moment the 4 metre (13 ft) high wall of water engulfed him.

Fahim says he managed to grab hold of part of a small boat and was swept along, coral tearing into his flesh. He unbuttons his shirt to reveal scores of cuts and abrasions.

"Suddenly I felt the current changing direction. I realised I was on top of another wave, not as big as the first. I was dashed back onto land. I couldn't believe it," he said.

Kolhufushi bore the brunt of the ocean's assault on the Maldives and at least 10 of its 870 people were killed. Six are missing. But everyone acknowledges things could have been much worse.

Zareer says he is glad an elderly relative in a coma survived the waves even though she died of her illness two days later.

"Water filled her room up to here," he said, pointing to a stain about three feet below the ceiling. "But her bed simply floated higher and higher. It's a miracle!"

There are those who wish their luck had been better.

On the island of Guraidhoo, Haulath Abdul Samad stares at the floor as her sister Shabana explains the family's grief.

Haulath's one-year-old son Yoosuf Risham was one of two fatalities on the island, which suffered much less damage than Kolhufushi. His mother had gone to Male to give birth to her fourth child. Shabana accompanied her sister.

"We left the child with a couple we could trust. When the wave came the woman ran out of the house and left him behind. When she came back with her husband, the boy's room had filled up with water," Shabana said.

Haulath gave birth to a daughter on the day her son died.

Shabana makes a brave attempt to be cheerful. "We have yet to name the child. Perhaps we can call her Tsunami."