VALLEY THAIS OFFER PRAYERS LOCAL COMMUNITY GATHERS AT TEMPLE.

Byline: Andrea Cavanaugh Staff Writer

Bangkok resident Juckrawooth Attanawanich was vacationing in Florida on Sunday when he saw the first horrifying images flash across the TV screen.

While his family is safe in Bangkok, a close friend was vacationing on a Thai beach when she was swept away by a wall of water. After five days, the woman's family has given up hope.

``They gave up the search,'' he said. ``I'm hoping for a miracle.''

That's why Attanawanich was at Wat Thai Temple in North Hollywood on Thursday night - to pray for a miracle for the 6,000 people still missing in his homeland. More than 4,500 died, including 2,230 tourists, and 9,000 were hurt in Thailand when a massive tsunami struck Southeast Asia.

Dozens of members of the Valley's Thai community gathered in the temple Thursday night to chant and pray for those casualties, which include Bhumi Jensen, 21, grandson of the king of Thailand, whose flower-banked photo graced the front of the temple.

Local Thai leaders appealed for financial aid to purchase food, water and medical aid for the victims.

``We need you. We need every penny, every dollar,'' said Premmanee Chumnanvej, president of the South of Thailand Association of California. ``Money can translate into many things. Reach a hand out to us.''

Wat Thai is the largest Buddhist temple in the United States for followers of Theravada, a conservative form of Buddhism practiced in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and India. The temple serves an estimated 40,000 Los Angeles-area Buddhists.

The tsunami struck Thailand at the height of the winter tourism season, when the country's white-sand beaches were packed with vacationing Bangkok residents and Europeans and others trying to escape the dreary northern winter.

Many other victims were working-class Thais employed in the tourism industry. Sodsai Kitpetnee, 50, finally heard from her niece, a tour guide, who was missing for three days. But her cousin, a hotel engineer, was lost to the swirling waters. She has been unable to reach many other relatives.

``We've tried to call again and again,'' she said. ``We call every day. Nobody answers the phone.''

Andrea Cavanaugh, [phone]

andrea.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

TO HELP

Donations to aid tsunami victims in Thailand can be sent to Wat Thai Los Angeles, 8225 Coldwater Canyon Ave., North Hollywood, 91605. Write ``Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund'' on the memo line of checks.

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Photo:

(color) Members of the Wat Thai Temple in North Hollywood pray for victims of the tsunamis at a memorial service Thursday night.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

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TO HELP (see text)