Witness History Surviving Chile's tsunami
Feb 27, 2025
Alison Campbell, a Chilean survivor of the 2010 tsunami, shares her gripping story of survival on the Juan Fernandez Islands. She recounts the terrifying night when the tsunami struck, and her family's frantic escape from the rising waters. Amidst chaos, Alison highlights the fierce bond between her grandmother and granddaughter, and the emotional turmoil faced in the aftermath. Her experience sheds light on resilience and the profound psychological impacts of such a disaster, making listeners reflect on the fragility of safety.
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Tsunami Survival
- Alison Campbell and her family were on holiday in the Juan Fernandez Islands when a tsunami struck.
- Separated from her family during the chaos, she clung to a eucalyptus branch until the water receded.
House on Stilts
- Alison's son, Matthew, was staying in a house on stilts with a friend when the tsunami hit.
- The house was pulled from its foundations and floated in the bay; Matthew eventually found safety on a fisherman's boat.
Body Bag Flight
- While waiting for their flight back to Santiago, a woman handed out cologne and napkins to passengers.
- This was in anticipation of the smell from a body bag containing a tsunami victim being transported on the same flight.