Flood waves on the 26th of December 2004

Around Eleven O'clock in the morning the first flood waves started to come in, we were diving at that time

and can now recall that something was unusual at that time. At a quarter to One in the afternoon the first big flood wave came in.

We had no idea what was happening. B ut when it repeated itself another 2 times within half an hour, we suspected only an earthquake

on the seabed could cause this to happen. We never knew at that moment that the quake had come from so far away, and was so powerful.

Not even with spring low and high tides the waves reaches these levels. At low tide the water went far below the edge

of the reef exposing parts that have never been exposed before. High tide was reached within two and a half minutes,

 and the water came over the road and rushing into canals build next to our dive center.

The damage from the flood waves, sunken boats, many more are completely submerged and have to be located.

For many of them it takes days before they can be lifted to the surface as the torrential rains make it impossible to work.

A large crack runs from the marine charter along the shore side all the way to the commercial harbour.

Mon Zanmi "my friend" has been lifted by a tidal wave and put to rest in the fish market of the artisan harbour.

Close by another vessel has been lifted 50 meters inland, and containers have been floating around and put to rest in the middle of a road.

Torrential rains on the 29th and 30th of December 2004 follow the flood waves,

and caused water levels in villages around the north coast of Mahe notably in the Beau Vallon area to rise.

Rain water runs down the hills, turning roads into rivers, flooding houses, and causing numerous land slides.

One of them landed in our house, causing much damage on the house, but luckily minor damage on belongings in the house.

We had to move however and Big Blue Divers office was not functioning fully until the 10th of January, when we

received a phone line and subsequently could resume correspondence by e-mail.    

Mud being removed from our preparation area, the Beau Vallon road was closed by a land slide for more than half a day.

Our house covered until the roof, and filled unside by rocks & mud. The landslide on the left is the one that entered our house.

The landslide on the right covered three cars and entered a house in the same manner as ours.

Last updated June 2005