I did not blame the government. I blame the idiot persons who did not at least make a few phone calls. And it does not take a whole lot of technology to tell people a big wave is coming and run to higher ground, which apparently was nearby in at least some cases. And to get out of the ocean. How about radio? Do you think none of those countries have radios? Bullhorns? Sirens of some sort? Cell phones? Loud voices? OK, perhaps the "natives" are too technologically underserved to get out of the ocean but there were tourists who probably had their waterproof blackberries with them. mg