Palm Bay physician a witness to horror

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http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/localstoryN1231TSUNMILOCAL.htm

 

Palm Bay physician a witness to horror

 

BY RICK NEALE

FLORIDA TODAY

 

 

Perched on the 15th floor of a building, Dr. Vijayan

Wzorek watched helplessly as a killer tidal wave

devastated the island town below.

 

"Millions of gallons of the sea came rushing into the

village, smashing down brick and concrete walls,

washing out houses . . . the island became like a huge

swimming pool filled with sea water and sewage and

cries for help . . . unfortunately, it was so sudden

some people on the beach and closely lying houses had

no chance to run . . ."

 

"We estimate about 125 local residents have died here.

Many are homeless, and have no water or food or

clothing."

 

Wzorek is a doctor who has lived in Palm Bay for five

years. He traveled to India in November with his wife,

Kalika, to study natural medicine and perform

volunteer work.

 

He got a bird's-eye view of the Dec. 26 disaster while

visiting the coastal town of Amritapuri in southwest

India. Wzorek was standing in a building less than a

block from the ocean when the tsunami struck.

 

In an e-mail interview with FLORIDA TODAY, he

described scenes of death and bedlam.

 

"I witnessed waist-high water and people being pulled

out of it and pulled to safety. Both my wife, Kalika,

and I witnessed and helped with the entire evacuation

of the island, as well as evacuation of large animals

from the island such as cows and elephants.

 

"I took quite a lot of video footage as it all was

happening as well as after. You can plainly see the

water rushing in the village and the islands

evacuating and the destruction afterwards. Each day

I'm videotaping all events of the area as they

unfold."

 

Wzorek said about 24,000 Westerners, Indians and

Europeans were visiting the remote Amritapuri area for

the Christmas holiday. Many visited the ashram, or

religious community, of the Hindu holy mother Ammachi.

 

 

"The resources of the holy mother are also running

low," he wrote. "At present time, she is feeding and

clothing and attending to the sick and injured

residents of the local area, all of her own doing and

resources."

 

Contact Neale at 242-3638 or rneale

 

 

How to help

 

 

The Brevard Indian community has rallied to raise

money for relief efforts. Make checks payable to Red

Cross International and mail to:

Dr. Silas Charles

 

Cancer Care Center

 

1430 S. Pine St.

 

Melbourne, FL 32901

 

 

Also, Andretti Thrill Park in Melbourne is collecting

food and water through Jan. 31 for the Red Cross and

other relief organization. Anyone who brings at least

four cans of food or four bottles of water will

receive a free game of miniature golf anytime in the

next year.

Goods will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday

through Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays at the

park, 3960 Babcock St.

 

For addresses of other legitimate international relief

agencies, log onto floridatoday.com

 

 

Thanks to George (Chitanand) for the link to the above

itesm

 

Keval

 

 

 

 

 

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