20 years after the tsunami: Franky's moving ceremony in Thailand

20 years after the tsunami: Franky's moving ceremony in Thailand

Khao Lak, Thailand - On December 23, Frank Wetzig, better known as "Franky", commemorates the devastating tsunami disaster in Khao Lak 20 years ago. On this date, he plans a ceremony on the beach as usual, where he paints a heart in the sand with his family and inflamed candles. With inflamed incense sticks and prayers, they go back to the memories that were changed by the Tsunami 2004 forever. On this fateful day there was an earthquake of thickness 9.1 in front of the west coast of North Sumatra, which is ever measured. This was followed by a massive tidal wave that cost more than 230,000 people in Thailand, including at least 5,400, including over 500 Germans, such as Onetz reported .

unprepared coasts and traumatic memories

Franky was with his parents in the popular tourist region Khao Lak and experienced the catastrophe up close. Immediately after the earthquake, the electricity failed three times in her house, and the family heard a worrying noise while they had not yet understood what was going on. When the tidal wave reached the coast with unimaginable power, Franky was hit by the water masses and experienced a nightmare under water, from which it finally escaped through a miracle. Driven by a survival instinct and the memories of his pregnant partner and his unborn child, he was forced to fight the huge currents, such as SPIEGEL reported .

The survivors have learned since then to live with the memories of the tragedy. Franky not only overcome the horror, but built a new life. He now has a small hotel that is equipped with a rescue storm to get guests to safety in the event of another tsunamis. The region has also implemented extensive tsunami protection measures, including evacuation routes and warning systems in order to be better prepared for the future. The Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park is another sign of memory to the victims and symbolizes hope for a safer future.