When the December 26, 2004, tsunami hit the area, this hospital had 30 beds. The hospital was from the coast and was completely surrounded by water for a time. After the tsunami hit, a number of nurses and staff had lost their homes and had to sleep in hospital offices or in tents some distance from the hospital. The Red Cross helped repair the hospital and provided tents to serve as temporary shelter for hospital staff. The tents were set up adjacent to the hospital.