Memory of the devastating tsunami: 20 years later in Asia

Memory of the devastating tsunami: 20 years later in Asia

Banda Aceh, Indonesien - On December 26, 2024, thousands of people in the affected countries commemorate the tragedy of the devastating tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, which demanded many lives on the same date 20 years ago. According to the international disaster database EM-DAT, the catastrophe cost a total of around 230,000 people with particularly high number of victims from Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. In Banda Aceh, Indonesia, memory began with an official ceremony in the Baiturrahman mosque, in which a three-minute siren sounded. This sound recalled the time when the huge waves reached the coast. The survivors and relatives of the victims also took part in the ceremonies to commemorate the deceased and at the same time celebrate the strength and unity of the community, which contributed to the restoration after the catastrophe, as Tagesschau

memory and disaster prevention

In Thailand and Sri Lanka, memorial celebrations and religious ceremonies were also organized to commemorate the many victims. In southern Thailand, where at least 5,400 people died, events were held in the Tsunami Memorial Park in the province of Phang NGA. The governor of the Thai province of Phuket, Sophon Suwanrat, emphasized the importance of early warning systems that were installed after the catastrophe to minimize future risks. He reported new warning boys that were only installed last month. "We do not take any risk and are aware of the dangers. People can rely on the warning system," he assured.

The devastating quake of the strength 9.1 that triggered the tsunami not only cost thousands of life, but also initiated a new era of disaster prevention in the affected regions. The idea of memory on the 20th anniversary is therefore more than just a respectful commemoration of a tragedy; It also serves to strengthen the awareness of the importance of prevention measures and to further consolidate the communities in their resilience, such as reported.