2004 Sri Lanka tsunami train wreck facts for kids

The 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami train wreck was the largest single rail disaster in history (by death toll). It was caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Train

Train #50, the Matara Express, also known as the "Queen of the Sea" line, was a regular train between the Sri Lankan capital Colombo and Matara. The train, overcrowded with 1800+ passengers, left Colombo on 26 December 2004.

Tsunami strikes the train

At 9:30 A.M. in the village of Peraliya, the beach saw the gigantic waves arriving towards.The first wave flooded the carriages and caused panic among the passengers. The next wave arrived after 10 Minutes. It was huge and washed away the train and smashed it against trees and houses which were nearby.

Casualities

The huge waves of tsunami had destroyed the train and only 150 passengers out of 1800+ survived. About 1700 were reported dead, even though only 900 bodies were recovered.The fact is that the Sri Lankan authorities were of no ideas where the train was washed to. After 4 PM, Prime minister Rajapaksa's helicopter identified it. Even though rescue operations was held not more than 150 people survived and the village was also washed away by the deadly waves.