Rapid response to Tsunami’s destruction

"THE SMELL of death was overpowering."


Superintendent Hamish McCardle is matter of fact when he talks about leading the first rotation of police personnel to Thailand on Operation Phuket to help clean up after the devastating Tsunami that stuck the region on 26 December 2004.

The Tsunami caused massive destruction along the coastline of several Asian countries. Disaster Victim Identification, rescue and aid teams from around the world flocked to assist.

Hamish and 2IC Detective Senior Sergeant Russell Le Prou led a team of 13 Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) members and five Emergency Response Team (ER) members to Phuket and Phang-Nga in Thailand.

The NZ Police response was rapid, with staff called back to work and the teams on their way to Phuket on 31 December. Hamish, who is based in Jakarta, was on leave in New Zealand when the call was made.

The composite DVI team of forensic experts and police included pathologist Simon Stables, forensic dentist Warren Bell and police fingerprint expert John Turner.

Police liaison officer Detective Inspector Mike Bush from Bangkok was already in Phuket to greet the contingent when it arrived. Hamish says while the devastation was tragic, it was also localised.

“ Blocks back from the beach, life continues. The waves affected beach communities differently depending on the geography of the beach. It was unusual how the Tsunami came ashore so differently.”

It was the first time an ER team had been deployed after the concept was developed following the Bali bombing and involved police, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and NZ Defence Force resources.

Working from the Salakan Crisis Centre in Phuket City Hall, the group supported MFAT staff in a consular response to New Zealanders caught up in the disaster. They also visited hospitals looking for New Zealanders, and attempted to match names of missing Kiwis with lists at the crisis centre.

The DVI team, meanwhile, deployed to Phang-Nga area to work at the Wat Yan Yao mortuary site. Their role was technically focused – working with DVI teams from 14 other nations to forensically identify the several thousand bodies at the mortuary.

“ Conditions at the mortuary were as dreadful as you could imagine. It was very chaotic although after two weeks it started to become more orderly. The effect of decay on human bodies over a few weeks is very powerful,” says Hamish.

The second contingent left for their three-week rotation on Sunday 16 January, with the first contingent arriving home on Thursday 20 January.