Saving Familykkkkkkkkkkkkkk

By Gwyneth Cunningham
Kaimana touches a picture that transports her, and helps her save her family before
the tsunami.

The Guardian
Interviews by Kate Lamb in Jakarta
Thursday 25 December 2014 18.00 EST
Indian Ocean tsunami: survivors' stories from Aceh
Marthunis, 17, from Alue Naga village, Banda Aceh
That morning I was playing soccer with my friends. We ran home after the strong earthquake and
after that I heard a really loud noise, like an aeroplane. When I looked at the sea I saw something I had
never seen before and I was terrified. My family rushed into our minivan but the road was full with
everyone trying to escape. The black wave hit our minivan, turning us over several times before I blacked
out. When I regained consciousness I was in the water. Holding on to a school chair, I floated until I
landed on a beach. I had no idea where I was and I was so hungry and thirsty. There were bodies and
debris everywhere. Under a mangrove tree I saw a mattress had washed up and I started searching for
packets of noodles and bottles of water, collecting them around my mattress. After five days I didnt have
any water or food left. I survived there by myself until day 20. Thats when I saw people coming to
collect the bodies. They rescued me and took me to Fakinah hospital where I found my father. He told me
my mother and sister had died in the tsunami.

Nazaruddin Musa, 42, from Darussalam, Banda Aceh

Nazaruddin Musa
Nazaruddin Musa survived by climbing atop a two-storey building. Photograph: Guardian
I was at a great fishing spot in Krueng Cut village when I felt the earthquake. I wasnt worried but
I thought I should check on my family. I arrived home about 15 minutes later and my wife and son were
fine so I was thinking about driving around town to look at the damage from the earthquake. At that time
I could never have imagined the tsunami. But minutes later I saw the water coming towards us, it was
washing up houses and gathering speed. I grabbed my son and my wife and we ran. There was a huge
wall behind our house and we only just managed to scale it in time. It was a life or death moment because
the water was right behind us. We ran to a two-storey building, and the next moment I saw the first wave
take hundreds of people. I ran down and picked up a small girl lying on the ground and took her up to the
second floor. Then the second wave hit. After the first wave I could see the dead and injured but the
second wave was devastating, it just swept everything away.
Mahyuddin, 38, from Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar
Mahyuddin
Mahyuddin was out at sea when the tsunami hit. He survived but lost his son and wife.
Photograph: Guardian

On Saturday I went fishing around Pulau Weh, an island off Aceh, and we spent the night there.
We were on the way back to the mainland on Sunday morning when our boats started rocking. After that
we could see a huge wave in the distance. It was extraordinary, about 20 meters high. Another boat crew
heading to land started yelling at us, telling us to return to the middle of the ocean. Three waves passed
and at noon we got a radio call asking for us to help rescue the victims. On the way back we saw bodies
floating in the water. It was unbelievable. We picked up many survivors. When we got to land we saw
that it was flat, debris was everywhere and there was a clear view of the mountain. We helped rescue
people all day and before it got dark I returned to my home in Kampoeng Jawa village. Sadly, my house
had been swept away. I had lost my wife and my son and I didnt know what to do. I went to the great
mosque and slept there on the terrace and the tremors continued into the night.

Nazariah, 44, from Lampulo, Banda Aceh

Nazariah Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Nazariah and her baby were pulled out of water by a policeman. Photograph: Guardian
My baby was six months old and my first instinct was to grab him. I heard people screaming
outside, that water was coming and I saw many people running. Then I heard something smack against
the house and I knew I was not going to be safe on the second floor. My husband and my other children
were out so I ran with my baby and my mother. The first wave hit us but we managed to hold on to each
other. I was so scared that I would lose them so I held on as tight as I could. The water carried us to a
police station near my house and a policeman there pulled us out of the water. Then the second very
strong wave came. We ran up to the second floor but the water was filling up the whole room. I thought
we might get trapped and drown in there. But the policeman started bashing at the ceiling and he made a
hole so we could climb into the roof. It was an amazing moment. I was thanking God when the water
started to go down.

Fauziah, 44, from Lampulo, Banda Aceh

Fauziah
A boat landed on Fauziahs roof. She and her five children climbed into the boat and survived.
Photograph: Guardian
I knew I had to escape but my husband had taken the motorbike when he went shopping and I
was at home with our five children. I had no idea what to do. I was just thinking that I had to get to the
second floor of a house nearby. What I remember was that the wave was really black. At first we werent
sure if it was oil or water. When it came up to us on the second floor it felt like judgment day. I thought
my children and I were all going to die. Panicking, my son made a hole in the roof and climbed up. One
by one he pulled us up, I was amazed by him. After that that we realised a boat had landed on top of the
house. From the roof I could also see many people floating in the water. We climbed up into the boat and
then I started praying. I was worried about my parents and my husband. They all died that day. The

tsunami was 10 years ago but I feel like it just happened. I keep remembering even though I know my life
should go on.

Saving Family

I came home and went to my room to put my backpack

away. I went into the kitchen and said hi to mom. She gave
me a snack and the usual question.
How was school today? she asked.
Good. I guess. I got 100% on my test today! I
said.
Wow! Good job honey!
What did I miss? said dad as he came into the
room.
Kaimana got 100! said mom eagerly.
Good girl he said.
Thanks, I said as I went to my room to finish my
homework.
I started writing my paragraph about my family. First I wrote about our names. My name means
power of the sea. I was named that because when I was born the sea was raging. My mothers name is
Alani and my fathers name Koa. I would ask them later what they meant. I wrote about how we had
always lived in Hawaii in the Ring of Fire. After I wrote that, I went back to the kitchen.
Is it going to rain? I asked, It looks a little stormy.
I think so Kaimana, mom said.
Okay.
I looked out the window and stared at the sea and saw the water
looked weird.
Strange, I thought to myself.
I went to the living room and sat down. I turned on the television. The news came on first and
there was a picture of the ocean. I didnt pay too much attention as I switched the channels. I was
watching for a while when I heard it raining louder and louder but again I paid no attention. I went back
to my room to finish my homework, and about an hour later I heard dad screaming.
Get in the attic, go!

I was confused. So, I ran to where he was and asked what was going on.
Dad what is happening?
No time! Go!
I ran up the stairs to the attic and guessed it was a tsunami.
I heard dad and mom saying they were getting the elderly neighbors upstairs and safe.
They were running around, and I was scared alone in the attic.
The house shook violently, and I hit my head on something and blacked out.
By the time I woke up, I was with my neighbors somewhere I didnt know.
Where are my parents? I asked as I sat up fast. Ow.
They, they are gone. I am so sorry. The lady said.
I turned away and started to cry. What do you mean gone? I said as I sobbed.
Gone, as in a better place, the man said.
Those brave people made sure everyone was safe even though they knew we would most likely
already be safe. She said.
I was devastated. My parents were gone and I had to live with my aunt and uncle. A few days
later I still cried every night. One night I walked into the living room and looked at a newspaper. It
showed a picture of the tsunami. I traced it with my finger and something flashed before my eyes. I
touched it again and I was in my house.
What?!? I thought.
This time I held the picture and I was in my house with my parents. I was confused but I told
them something strange.
Mom, Dad, everything will be fine but something bad will happen, wait look!
I ran to the TV and showed them the news about the ocean and it said there was a tsunami
chance.
Only if I thought, I muttered to myself.
We have to get the attic and just know everyone will be fine. Come on! Now!
But, dad said.
Everything will be okay. I said as I lead them to the attic.

I put down the photo and was transported to my kitchen where I was with my family and I wasnt
in the past. I was in the present. I hugged my parents close and cried and thankful it was a bad dream.
My parents thought I just had a bad day and hugged back. I went to my room and finished my
homework and always watched the news to make sure to be thankful for my parents.
I kissed my parents goodnight and went to sleep and didnt cry myself to sleep for the first time in
days.