In the path of the tsunami

1 of 9 Bedu Saini, a local newspaper photographer, captured these images before hiding his camera and heading off to find his family. He retrieved his camera undamaged three weeks later.

2 of 9 Mr Saini was standing at Banda Aceh's main roundabout when water began to rush through the streets.

3 of 9 Panicking, fearful residents tried to head inland. "I saw the water coming. It rose up just like a king cobra waiting to strike," Mr Saini remembers.

4 of 9 Cars and whole buildings were picked up by the waves and careered through the streets.

5 of 9 Mr Saini clambered onto high ground and began to take pictures. But as the water continued to pour inland, he began to fear for his family.

6 of 9 By the time Mr Saini arrived home, his house had been swept away. When the waters finally receded, he helped his family find food and shelter.

7 of 9 Although much of Banda Aceh had been destroyed, the shop where Mr Saini stored his camera was still standing - but it remained locked for more than two weeks.

8 of 9 Eventually, the shop's owner returned and Mr Saini's camera was found undamaged. The pictures it contained show the panic and fear as the tsunami hit Banda Aceh.

9 of 9 "If my images help Banda Aceh to recover and people to realise how bad it was, it's good enough," Mr Saini says.