December 26th 2024.
People from all over Indonesia's Aceh province came together on Thursday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated the region. The disaster, which struck on December 26, 2004, is still remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in modern history.
In the small village of Ulee Lheue, many gathered to visit the mass graves where over 14,000 unidentified victims of the tsunami were laid to rest. The scene was somber as people wept while placing flowers at the graves. Similar mass graves can be found in the capital city of Banda Aceh, which was one of the hardest hit areas by the magnitude 9.1 earthquake and ensuing tsunami.
Muhamad Amirudin, who lost two of his children in the disaster, visited the grave with his wife and shared his thoughts. "We miss them and we still don't know where they are. All we know is that every year we visit the mass grave in Ulee Lhue and Siron," he said. "This life is only temporary, so we do our best to be useful to others."
The earthquake and resulting tsunami claimed the lives of around 230,000 people across a dozen countries, with Indonesia being the hardest hit. It is estimated that over 170,000 people lost their lives in Indonesia alone. Even after 20 years, the survivors are still grieving the loss of their loved ones.
In Banda Aceh, a memorial ceremony was held at the Baiturrahman Mosque where hundreds gathered to pray and remember the victims. At the exact time of the earthquake, sirens sounded across the city for three minutes. However, in the two decades since the disaster, the infrastructure in Aceh has been rebuilt and is now more resilient. Early warning systems have also been installed along the coast to provide crucial time for residents to seek safety.
The rebuilding efforts were made possible by the support of international donors and organizations, who contributed significant funds to help the region recover. Schools, hospitals, and essential infrastructure that were destroyed have been reconstructed.
In Thailand, a memorial ceremony was held in the small fishing village of Ban Nam Khem, which was one of the hardest hit areas in the country. Mourners gathered at the tsunami memorial to lay flowers and offer prayers. The disaster claimed the lives of over 8,000 people in Thailand, with nearly 400 bodies remaining unclaimed.
In India, hundreds gathered at Marina beach in Chennai to offer prayers and pour milk into the sea as a way to honor the gods and the deceased. In Sri Lanka, a similar ceremony was held at the coastal village of Pereliya, where a memorial stands to remember the nearly 2,000 passengers who died when their train was hit by the tsunami.
Overall, the tsunami claimed the lives of over 35,000 people in Sri Lanka. As the survivors and relatives continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones, people across the country observed two minutes of silence on Thursday to honor and remember those who lost their lives.
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