Remembering the Devastating Tsunami of 2004
Emotional ceremonies are expected across Asia on Thursday to remember the 220,000 people who died two decades ago when a tsunami devastated coastal areas around the Indian Ocean, in one of the worst natural disasters in human history.
The Tragic Events
On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off Indonesia’s western tip generated a series of massive waves that pummelled the coastline of 14 countries from Indonesia to Somalia. Beachside memorials and religious ceremonies will be held across Asia in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, which were the worst hit countries.
Personal Stories of Loss
"I hope we will never experience that ever again," said Nilawati, a 60-year-old Indonesian housewife who lost her son and mother in the tragedy. "I learned the devastation of losing a child, a grief I can’t explain with words. It feels like it just happened yesterday. Whenever I am reminded of it, it feels like all the blood rushes out of my body."
The Scale of the Disaster
Victims of waves as high as 30 metres (98 feet) included many foreign tourists celebrating Christmas on the region’s sun-kissed beaches, bringing the tragedy into homes around the globe. The seabed being ripped open pushed waves at double the speed of a bullet train, crossing the Indian Ocean within hours without warning. A total of 226,408 people died as a result of the tsunami, according to EM-DAT, a recognised global disaster database.
No Warning, No Evacuation
There was no warning of the impending tsunami, giving little time for evacuation, despite the hours-long gaps between the waves striking different continents. But today, a sophisticated network of monitoring stations has cut down warning times.
Ceremonies and Memorials
Indonesia suffered the highest death toll, with more than 160,000 people killed along its western coast. In its westernmost province Aceh, mourners were to hold a moment of silence before visits to a mass grave and a communal prayer at the grand mosque in provincial capital Banda Aceh. The disaster also ended a decades-long separatist conflict in Aceh, with a peace deal between rebels and Jakarta struck less than a year later.
In Sri Lanka, where more than 35,000 people perished, survivors and relatives were to gather to remember around 1,000 victims who died when waves derailed a passenger train. The mourners will board the restored Ocean Queen Express and head to Peraliya — the exact spot where it was ripped from the tracks, around 90 kilometres (56 miles) south of Colombo. A brief religious ceremony will be held with relatives of the dead there, while Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim ceremonies are also organized to commemorate victims across the South Asian island nation.
In Thailand, where half of the more than 5,000 dead were foreign tourists, unofficial vigils were expected to accompany a government memorial ceremony. At a hotel in Phang Nga province, there will host a tsunami exhibition, a documentary screening, and introductions by government and UN bodies on disaster preparedness and resilience measures.
International Impact
Nearly 300 people were killed as far away as Somalia, as well as more than 100 in the Maldives and dozens in Malaysia and Myanmar. "My children, wife, father, mother, all of my siblings were swept away," said Indonesian survivor and fisherman Baharuddin Zainun, 70. "The same tragedy was felt by others as well. We feel the same feelings."
Conclusion
The 2004 tsunami was a devastating reminder of the power of nature and the importance of disaster preparedness. As we remember the victims of this tragedy, we also acknowledge the resilience and strength of those who survived and the communities that came together to support each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many people died in the 2004 tsunami?
A: A total of 226,408 people died as a result of the tsunami.
Q: Which countries were affected by the tsunami?
A: The tsunami affected 14 countries from Indonesia to Somalia.
Q: What was the magnitude of the earthquake that triggered the tsunami?
A: The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.1.
Q: How many foreign tourists were killed in the tsunami?
A: Half of the more than 5,000 dead in Thailand were foreign tourists.