I wonder if the tide was high ... [would] the effect of a tsunami [be] much worse? and It was close to a full moon too. I wonder did that have an effect?

Well, at high tide, those on shore would certainly have further to run to escape the wave.

Here's a heart-warming story of a family which fled the wave and survived:

Family's dog saves boy, 7, from tsunami
Toronto Star, January 3, 2004

Extract:

"Sangeeta thought she would never see him again. But the family dog saw to it that she did.

The dog, called Selvakumar, ducked into the hut after Dinakaran. Nipping and nudging, it did everything in its canine power to get the boy up the hill.

"That dog grabbed me by the collar of my shirt," Dinakaran said from under some trees at Pondicherry University, where the family is waiting for relief. "He dragged me out," Dinakaran said.

Sangeeta, 24, who like many south Indians only uses one name, had no idea of the drama unfolding below. Once she had crossed the main road to safety she collapsed into tears, screaming over the loss of her eldest son."

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1104707409988

How many dogs have saved their owners from peril, I wonder?

If only dogs could tell their tales.

A dog called Selvakumar and a little boy called Dinakaran.

Perhaps this story in yesterday's Toronto Star will inspire someone to send money to Pondicherry University for Dinakaran's education, and imagine, just imagine, what Dinakaran might do for his countrymen some day, or, perhaps, for the world!

All thanks to a little dog called Selvakumar.

A dog saves a boy from a tidal wave, and turns the tide of history.

Now, there's a tale for the Lunar Trail. :)