Photos Tell Story Behind Story
COOPER: So many of you at home have emailed us with concern about orphans, kids who have either lost one or both of their parents in the storms. Christiane, you have been looking into the plight of orphans here and there are many of them.</s>AMANPOUR: We have the story of what one priest describes as miracle. The last time there was a tsunami in the Indian Ocean it was nearly 200 years ago and there's no experience in this generation and no storytelling in this generation. But he tells us a story that conjures the awful power of this water and the quick thinking that led to him saving 26 orphans. This is his story.</s>AMANPOUR (voice-over): These children really should be dead. The tsunami swamped their orphanage but they're playing and smiling thanks to the quick thinking of their caretaker, Father Dayalan Sanders. With monsoon rains now adding to the misery, Father Sanders took us across the lag on a to tell us how he and the kids escaped certain death at Nevaladi (ph) Beach. The story starts early morning, Sunday December 26 with his panic stricken wife.</s>FATHER DAYALAN SANDERS, SAMARITAN CHILDREN'S HOME: She just burst into the room. I never saw her look so terrified. And I thought what could be this wrong for her to look like this. And she said the sea is coming. Words defy description of what I saw. It was a massive 30-foot wall of water. Black in color. Just coming at us like a thousand freight trains charging at you. I knew that I had to act fast and there was no time to think and I got to get the children out. I came here. I was shouting at the top of my lungs. They came and I ran, I carried and I just threw them over their fence.</s>AMANPOUR: Their only method of escape a small boat tied up behind the orphanage. Safe now in a friend's home, the youngest remember how terrified they were. "I was in front. We saw the wave coming," says Vincent, "I got down in the boat. I'm still afraid." Esau says, "We ran to the boat. I saw a car slammed against the sea. The sea was black. I was so scared." And Pria (ph), who is 15-year-old says that when the wave came and lashed the boat from all sides, we were all crying and praying to God to help us. That is when this man of God made a desperate test of faith. With 32 people, 26 of them children in this tiny boat, he turned to the wave.</s>SANDERS: I stood up. I raised both of my hands and I said, "I command you in the name of Jesus to stop."</s>AMANPOUR: Whether the hand of God or just good fortunate, the engine was on the boat.</s>SANDERS: We never leave the outboard motor on the launch. This is the first time we have done that, it has happened to us.</s>AMANPOUR: And for the first time, Stephan (ph) the boat man got it going on the first try.</s>SANDERS: He just yanked the starter rope and with one pull it started. I said this is what happened. I called upon my God. I prayed. And my God answered my prayer.</s>AMANPOUR: But the drama wasn't over. They still had to outrun the wave.</s>SANDERS: There is no power on earth that could resist the force behind this water of body. The only safe place was right on top of it. I was determined that I'm going to get on top of that.</s>AMANPOUR: He ordered Stephan to turn around and charge the overloaded 15 horsepower motor straight at the wave. An hour and a half later, they all floated into a town of Batikaloa (ph) drenched, spent but alive. (on camera) This east coast took the full brunt of the tsunami it is hard to imagine but nearly half of all of the victims here in Sri Lanka have been children. And for days after the tidal wave struck, parents would come and walk up and down these beaches hoping that the sea that had seized their children would at least return their bodies. (voice-over) This school is just one of the many shelters in Batikaloa (ph). Some parents have come with their children but hundreds of children are still missing. This woman has lost one of her daughters and the waves of grief show no sign of subsiding.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was cooking in the kitchen and when she saw the water coming in, she ran but she lost her two children. She also lost her sister and her brother in law and two children.</s>AMANPOUR: Father Sanders saved the children in his care, but his parish is in desperate pain.</s>SANDERS: Now half the children are not here. Half the people are not here. I will take you and I will show you stories. My immediate neighbor, he lost his wife and two of his children. Now yesterday he drank poison and he is in the hospital in critical condition.</s>AMANPOUR: And the sorrow of another neighbor who tried to save his sister and mother from the swirling waters.</s>SANDERS: He said at one point he had to make a decision, I mean which -- I mean whether to save the mother, hold onto the mother or the sister and then he finally decided that he was going to hold onto the mother and he, you know, just let go of his sister and that, you know, is tearing him apart even now.</s>AMANPOUR: Father Sanders will not bend under this terrible sadness and loss. He had built this place as a refuge for the orphans of Sri Lanka's civil war.</s>SANDERS: I built this brick by brick, every penny, you know, I saved I put in here, 20 years of all my labor just vanished in 20 seconds right in front of my eyes but I'm not giving up. I'm coming back for the sake of the children and I'm coming back for the sake of the villages. I'm just going to rise like the Phoenix.</s>AMANPOUR: Now, Father Sanders is Sri Lankan, but he's an American citizen. His mother, his siblings live in the United States. And they're sending back private funds to help him try to rebuild.</s>COOPER: So he probably will be able to rebuild.</s>AMANPOUR: He will. He obviously needs -- he needs more money, but he hopes that he will and he is not going to leave. So that's good.</s>COOPER: We're joined by Soledad O'Brien, who is standing by in Phuket, Thailand. Soledad, orphans obviously here a big focus of people's attention. Same situation in Phuket, no doubt.</s>O'BRIEN: You know, absolutely. In fact, there's a similar story here in Phuket, actually. A group called World Vision, which is a relief organization, has a housing facility for street children. And they told a similar story, that the facility where these kids live and stay utterly devastated by the tsunami. But, fortunately, that morning, the kids had all gone out on an outing. And when they returned home, they saw the tsunami hitting. They were able to turn the bus around quickly and get out of there. Right now, what they're trying to do is just clean up and raise funds, so that they can rebuild their very heavily damaged facility.</s>AMANPOUR: Soledad, I just wanted to ask you, some of the stories that you've been reporting and other correspondent about these tourists who have been separated from their children, babies in many cases. Do you have any sort of updates of whether any of these children and parents have been reunited?</s>O'BRIEN: At this time, we don't have any good news to report, I'm sorry to say. And, of course, as I think Anderson said in that last hour, you know, the countries differ and the languages differ, but the stories are the same. And what's more heartbreaking than the story of a mother or father who doesn't have the strength to hold on to their child who looks at them and says, I'm afraid, I'm afraid, help me? Heartbreaking. Unfortunately, there is no good news to report. And I think, at this time, many of the people who are searching for their loved ones have now resigned themselves to being hopeful for just any news about any remains. They think that not knowing what happened, not having any little bit of closure, anything to hold on to would be the worst- case scenario. So, no, there is just lots and lots of heartbreak, not only here in Phuket, Thailand, and other areas right around here, but as you well know and have been reporting for this last week and more, really, everywhere. It's a disaster that's affected easy to say millions and millions of people -- Christiane.</s>COOPER: When I was back in the states last week, it seemed hard to figure out, well, if they have photographs of people that died, why can't they be identified? Yesterday, I went to a hospital. And I know you have been at the places, too. You actually see the photographs of the dead. And there are hundreds of them. And they're completely unrecognizable. Some don't even look human, it's horrible to say. The water robs people of any dignity in death.</s>AMANPOUR: Well, I'm just going to tell you something. Yesterday, I received an e-mail, Soledad. That's why I asked you. And I received an e-mail with a little picture of a 2-year-old boy who looked blond, who probably was a European. Nobody knew who he was. He couldn't say who he was, obviously, 2 years old. They don't know what country he's come from. So I've been e-mailing this picture around because I have seen a report about two distraught Norwegians, a couple who have lost their 2-year-old kid. And I'm going to e-mail it to you in Thailand. I don't know, but any little shred of hope, perhaps, any little information might be able to help.</s>COOPER: And so many people still missing. At this point, it is hard to really wrap your mind around. Soledad, we'll talk with you in a little bit, Christiane as well. Our special coverage continues. A lot more ahead. Stay with us.</s>ZAHN: And from back here in New York, we move on. In this disaster, there are so many areas we've yet to see, so many people whose stories have not been told. Our correspondents and crews remain throughout the region. We'll continue bringing you stories you are not going to find anywhere else. And coming up in this hour, the story of a 13-year-old boy suddenly facing a man's world of worries and problems. But, first, we want to bring you up to speed on some of the latest developments. The overall death toll confirmed by CNN has passed 155,000. Revised numbers from the U.S. State Department show a total of 37 Americans believed dead. The number of Americans unaccounted for has been reduced to 1,870. Secretary of State Colin Powell weeklong visit to the disaster zone ended today with a visit to Sri Lanka. He told our own John King -- quote -- "No briefing book, no TV picture can convey what really happened here." The secretary returns home, reports to President Bush on Monday. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan also toured the devastated region today. He told reporters -- quote -- "I have never seen such utter destruction, mile after mile." World governments and ordinary people also trying to help. More than $4 billion in aid has been pledged. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says corporate America has collected more than $187 million in donations. The main mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, which was built in the 1600s and survived the disaster, reopened for prayers today. It had been used as a makeshift morgue. About 2,000 worshipers heard Indonesia's chief cleric preach that the disaster may have been punishment for forgetting Allah and his teaching. He also asked everyone to be patient, kind of a tough message for everybody to listen to. There's much more ahead tonight from Anderson Cooper, Aaron Brown, stories of people pulling through one of the worst disasters of our time.</s>ZAHN: Meet this man. His name is Nasir. He is trying to comprehend his incredible loss. Still, fate has one more twist in store for him. And it could be good news. These villagers trying to outlast desperation, waiting to start rebuilding their lives. And then the story of these Americans coming the aid of thousands of hungry and grateful survivors -- all that still to come.