KM Viray
4. After the Tsunami by Arko Datta (2004)
A woman mourns a relative killed in the tsunami generated by a 9.3-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia in December 26, 2004. A series of deadly waves traveled across the Indian Ocean, wreaking havoc in nine Asian countries and reaching Somalia and Tanzania.
Photographer Arko Datta shares, “There were clusters of people collecting at the shore waiting in anticipation to find their lost relatives. Some time later, a woman’s body was being brought to the shore, and one woman recognized her as her family member. Upon seeing her, she immediately broke down. I was there for about five minutes photographing, and kept reminding myself that I was doing my job to keep my sanity and keep me away from depression.”
The photo was chosen as World Press Photo of the Year 2005.
