Prayers and tears as people remember 20 years since devastating Indian Ocean tsunami
by Evening Chronicle · ChronicleLiveOn Thursday, people began to gather in prayer and visit the mass graves in Indonesia’s Aceh province, marking 20 years since the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the worst natural disasters in recent history.
Many mourners were seen openly weeping at the mass grave in Ulee Lheue village, which is the final resting place for over 14,000 unidentified and unclaimed victims of the tsunami.
This site is just one of several mass graves located in Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia’s northernmost province.
The area was among the hardest hit by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, along with the district of Aceh Besar.
A powerful 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on December 26 2004, triggering a tsunami that claimed the lives of approximately 230,000 people across twelve countries, reaching as far as East Africa. The disaster displaced some 1.7 million people, primarily in the four most severely affected countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.
In Indonesia alone, more than 170,000 people lost their lives. Despite two decades passing, the grief remains palpable, with survivors still mourning their loved ones who were swept away by the colossal waves that levelled buildings across most of Aceh's coastal areas, extending all the way to the city of Banda Aceh.
Today, Aceh's infrastructure has been rebuilt and is now more resilient than before the tsunami. Early warning systems have been installed along the coast to alert residents of potential tsunamis, providing crucial time to seek safety.
The reconstruction efforts were made possible thanks to the generous contributions of international donors and organisations, who provided substantial funds to aid the region's recovery. Schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure that were obliterated by the disaster have been rebuilt with improved strength and resilience, ensuring better readiness for future challenges.
The tsunami also took the lives of over 8,000 people in Thailand, including many who are still missing, leaving a profound mark on the country's history. Almost 400 bodies remain unidentified and unclaimed.
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