Prayers and tears on the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people
In Indonesia’s Aceh province, people gathered for prayers and began visiting mass graves on Thursday to mark the 20th anniversary of the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the worst natural disasters in modern history.
Many wept openly at the mass grave in the village of Ulee Lheue, where more than 14,000 unidentified and homeless tsunami victims are buried. It is one of several mass graves in Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia’s northernmost province. It was one of the areas most affected by the earthquake and tsunami, along with the Aceh Besar district.
On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in dozens of countries across East Africa.
An estimated 1.7 million people have been displaced, mainly in the four most affected countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. More than 170 thousand people lost their lives in Indonesia alone.
Even after 20 years, the grief remains and survivors still remember the loved ones they lost in the huge waves that destroyed buildings in most of Aceh’s coastal areas – as far as the city of Banda Aceh.
CBC News correspondent Evan Solomon reports from Banda Aceh, Indonesia on the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami.
Infrastructure in Aceh has been rebuilt and is more resilient than before the tsunami. Early warning systems are installed in coastal areas to alert residents of potential tsunamis, providing critical time to seek safety.
Reconstruction efforts have been made possible by the support of international donors and organizations, which have provided significant funds to help the region recover.
Schools, hospitals and basic infrastructure destroyed by the disaster have been rebuilt with enhanced strength and resilience to better prepare for future challenges.
The tsunami killed more than 8,000 people in Thailand, including many missing, leaving a deep mark on the country’s history. About 400 bodies remain unidentified and unclaimed.
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