20 Years On: Remembering the Indian Ocean Tsunami

Two decades have passed since the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami struck, but the pain remains vivid for survivors and families who lost loved ones. On 26th December 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra’s coast triggered one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history. With waves that travelled across the Indian Ocean, the tsunami claimed around 230,000 lives across 14 countries, leaving millions displaced.

In Indonesia’s Aceh province, the hardest-hit region, people gathered on Thursday to honour the memories of those lost. Mass graves in Ulee Lheue and Siron villages became the focal points of remembrance, with mourners laying flowers and praying. Among them was Muhamad Amirudin, who lost two of his children in the disaster and has never recovered their bodies. “This life is only temporary, so we do our best to be useful to others,” Amirudin reflected, speaking from the mass grave where 14,000 unidentified victims rest.

The Baiturrahman Mosque in Banda Aceh hosted hundreds for prayers, and sirens echoed across the city, marking the earthquake’s moment. Aceh’s recovery has been monumental, supported by global aid. Schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure have been rebuilt, with early warning systems now installed to provide life-saving alerts for future tsunamis.

Across the Indian Ocean, in Thailand’s Phang Nga province, mourners gathered at Ban Nam Khem, a village devastated by the wave. Over 8,000 people perished in Thailand, many of whom remain missing. At a modest memorial ceremony, villagers shared their grief. Among them was Urai Sirisuk, who lost her four-year-old daughter.

“I have this feeling that the sea has taken my child. I’m very angry with it. I can’t even put my foot in the water,”

she said, holding back tears.

India also marked the anniversary, with hundreds gathering at Chennai’s Marina Beach in Tamil Nadu state. Rituals included pouring milk into the sea and offering prayers for the dead. The tsunami claimed nearly 7,000 lives in Tamil Nadu, leaving deep scars in communities.

“It has been 20 years since the tsunami,” said 69-year-old Sadayammal. “We are here to pay respects to the people who lost their lives.”

In Sri Lanka, the Queen of the Sea train disaster remains one of the most tragic stories. Nearly 2,000 passengers died when the tsunami derailed the coastal train in Pereliya. Survivors and relatives laid flowers at a memorial, observing two minutes of silence. Anura Ranjith, who lost his sister and niece that day, shared his lingering pain:

“I looked for them everywhere for years and still, no information about them. Their loss is a great sorrow and pain for me. I am still grieving.”

From Aceh to Sri Lanka, these commemorations reflect the resilience of communities that have rebuilt their lives while carrying the enduring weight of loss.

To learn more about tsunami preparedness and global efforts, visit UNESCO’s Tsunami Preparedness page.

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