Shockwave striking Male (the main island)

The shockwave hit Male (the main island) at about 6:30 a.m. and rattled beds and so on. I must have been on the water at the time as I didn't feel the earthquake.

At 7 a.m. I flew with my First Officer Matt and Cabin Attendant Haneef to Kuradu, Komandoo and back to Male. It was a 35-minute flight back to Male but on the way back, air traffic control announced that there was a tidal wave.

The wave had come from the east and the sea level rose about two to three meters. It had washed across the roads and then across the lagoon and onto the airport.

There wasn't much I could do. Being in the air was the safest place to be and we had over an hour reserve fuel. We elected to survey the damage first hand and give the passengers a view of the damage. Air Traffic Control also wanted a report. We had been advised that there were aftershocks and still more swells coming in. I could afford to stay in the air for a little longer.

Popular seaside resorts were hit hard

Passing resorts, I could see that the waves had washed right across the islands. HuluMale had a new lake from all the water that had washed in.

I took photos as we were flying. The photos of the airport show the water right up and over the seawall. Water had crossed the runway. Then after, the surge broke sections of the sea wall to pour back into the ocean.

I added a "before" shot of the airport to give some comparison or what the area looked like before the wave.

Male Maldives Airport before the giant wave hit

After 40 minutes of circling I decided that we needed to land somewhere safe. The ocean wasn't too bad. We didn't want to land in the regular lagoon as the topography may have changed radically and the channels may have been compromised.

We landed on the west side of HuluMale and then taxied to where many boats were anchored and a Passing Nation Security Service boat took our passengers to the airport. Strong currents played with the airplane but we were safe for the time being. After a while a company boat came to pick us up. The bags eventually were picked up and taken to the airport.

At the airport, large shipping containers were moved

Upon our return to the airport we saw close up the damage caused by these waves. Shipping containers were moved and buildings uprooted. The wave had taken chairs, suitcases and people onto the airfield. Barrels littered the runway. A number of jets on the apron escaped damage.

Fortunately there were no major injuries and no deaths at work. The death toll is now 30 people in the Maldives.

The resorts have various results. A handful have been damaged with Kanni Club Med having lost some rooms to the lagoon. Wooden walkways were torn up.

The general Manager at Hakurahura died. About five resorts are closing as they don't have power and have major repairs to do.

However, on the brighter side, most resorts have no damage. The Hilton, Lily Beach, Veligandu, Maafushi, and many others are fine. They want to continue operating.

The resorts are all self-contained and can look after themselves. As long at the electricity works and they don't have damaged bungalows there is no reason to close.

We have been flying out to resorts to bring out tourists and take in VIPs. Yesterday we were picking up stretchers and people in need of hospital care.

The local islands have sustained more damage, with walls falling down, stored food being wet, generators flooded and wells contaminated.

Tourists are being advised to stay clear of the Maldives until the status of resorts becomes clear and people figure out what's going on. That will be hard on tourism, for local workers as well as people like me. So I am concerned now for my job.

But life will quickly return to normal here I think. That is enough excitement for this year.

I hope your year isn't quite so traumatic...

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