Accidental video captures desperate struggle for survival

It was around 09:30 am on December 26, 2004. 17-year-old Ahmed Mohamed Waheed woke up from deep sleep to the sound of his mother telling him to get up. A huge wave has hit the island, she told him.

“I woke up to my mother telling me to get up. She told me I can’t be sleeping right now, that a wave has hit the island,” he recalled.

But swell waves were nothing new to the residents of R. Kandholhudhoo. The island faces tidal flooding each Hulhuangu Monsoon, with residents having to stay up all night trying to save their belongings.

Ahmed’s home was located in the middle of the island, protecting it from the brunt of damage from such incidents.

He did not think it a big deal.

But this new wave did cause flooding inside his home.

He moved some of the household items higher up away from the flood water and headed towards his photography studio.

Ahmed, who has had a passion for photography and videography from a young age, worked at a small photo studio in the island.

He would often document incidents of tidal flooding in the island using his camera.

“I moved some of the things higher up and then headed to my workplace. The place I worked was located in another area. I went there, took my camera, and then set off again,” he said.

Documenting the damage with his camera, he made his way to a café located near the health center.

He was standing on the deck extending out from the café when a woman approached him warned him to keep moving.

“I was standing there and a woman came and hold me that I can’t be standing there. She said that waves were coming in. But I said I would wait there,” he said.

Barely two minutes later, he saw a huge wave surround the island and crash inland.

“It was a huge wave measuring around 12 feet in height. All that water just crashed into the island. It all just crashed into the island,” he said.

Everyone rushed to the mosque for safety.

But Ahmed did not make it to the mosque.

A second wave crashed in.

“With the second wave, I saw everyone rush to the mosque. Young and old. Just everyone. Crying, screaming and pleading for help, everyone rushed towards the mosque,” he said.

Accidental recording

As the waves came in, Ahmed was trying hard not to get swept away in the current. But unbeknownst to him, his camera was recording everything.

The camera recorded images of people fighting for their lives. It captured the sound of people crying and pleading for help. It captured the sound people saying takbir.

Ahmed’s camera recorded scenes of people struggling to make their way towards the mosque, neck deep in water.

“This first clip was something I accidently recorded,” he said.

This was the moment the tsunami washed away his home island in mere minutes.

He didn’t have time to think. He rushed home, and found it turned upside down. Everything got swept away in the tsunami.

But he was grateful, at least his family was safe.

What happened to the photos and videos?

As news of the tsunami broke out, people from neighboring islands travelled to Kandholhudhoo on boats, carrying food, water and other essentials. The people of Kandholhudhoo wanted to leave as soon as possible, however they can.

As families left to different islands, Ahmed and his family went to R. Meedhoo. Ahmed had gone to primary school in Meedhoo and knew people there. The family arrived in the island in the evening.

The next day, Ahmed took his camera to a studio in Meedhoo. He copied the photos and videos to a CD and gave it to Ali Waheed, who was the parliamentary representative for Kandholhudhoo at the time.

The CD was sent to the state TV channel Television Maldives (TVM), and the footage was shared nationwide.

“I also collected a number of photos and videos in the aftermath. I had it in my possession until quite recently. I still have some of the photos. This is how I was able to share the footage. I get emotional when I watch it even now,” he said.

The photos and videos he took captured the essence of that tragic day.

Haunting memories

Ahmed did not speak publicly about that tragedy until six years later. The memory of that day remains fresh, two decades later.

It’s as if it happened yesterday.

“I still remember. I still remember that dark and fearful moment,” said Ahmed.

15 people from Kandholhudhoo lost their lives that day. The island, left in ruins, remains uninhabited.

Ahmed is proud of his home island of Kandholhudhoo. He remembers fondly the many memories he made in the island. The fun he had with his childhood friends and the precious memories he made with his family.