Anwar Zaini Zakaria, a fireman in Malaysia, recounts his experience during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The story also features the account of Idris Husin, a mosque bilal, who witnessed the tsunami's impact firsthand.
Fireman Anwar Zaini Zakaria was at the Perai fire station, Butterworth, when his superior summoned him and others to assist with an emergency on the island. A powerful wave had struck the coastline along Batu Ferringhi. It was Dec 26, 2004, the day of the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami. At that point, no one knew about the magnitude of the tragedy but a sense of dread hit Anwar. He wondered about his family, who were living in a riverside village in Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah.
Just as he was preparing to leave the station, a second, more devastating wave hit the coasts, wreaking havoc particularly at Miami Beach in Batu Ferringhi and Pantai Pasir Panjang in Balik Pulau.He knew then that something terrible had happened to his family. Eventually, he learnt that the tsunami had swept away his sister-in-law Normah Ahmad. Her body was recovered days later. “At the time, I didn’t understand anything about tsunamis. All I knew was that my house was swept away by the waves.”When he arrived at Kota Kuala Muda, all he saw was chaos and widespread panic. He made his way to the search-and-rescue operation centre and found that his family members were safe. “I decided to stay here to help the other rescue agencies after securing approval from my superior,” Anwar, who is now 62.Mosque bilal Idris Husin, 71, was having a family picnic by the seaside in Kuala Muda, Kedah, when he noticed something unusual.“I began reciting the azan, but before I could finish, a powerful wave hit the area,” he said. Fortunately, he was safe along with his family. They rushed home and took refuge on the second floor of their house, located near the beach. “The first wave wasn’t that strong. As the water receded and the shore dried up, I saw a massive surge of water in the distance, with even the lighthouse submerged by the waves. “Shortly after, a second wave hit. That’s when the true force of the disaster became clear,” Idris recalle
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