South-East Asia Commemorates 12th Anniversary of Tsunami Disaster
Acting Aceh governor Soedarmo (front), local officials and residents on Monday place flowers at Ulee Lheu mass grave during the commemoration of the massive tsunami that struck on Dec. 26, 2004.
Jakarta, 2/27 December 2016 (MINA) – Several South-East Asian nations commemorated on Monday the 12th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster that killed hundreds of thousands of people across 14 countries.
The tsunami caused by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island in 2004 claimed an estimated 230,000 lives, making it the deadliest tsunami in recorded history.
In the province of Aceh in Indonesia, where almost 200,000 people died and thousands were left homeless, the commemoration was concentrated around the Ulee Lheu mosque in Banda Aceh, the province’s capital, DPA reported..
A mass prayer and social activities for orphans were held, according to Aceh provincial administration’s spokesman, Frans Delian.
A photo exhibition to commemorate the event was also held in the Tsunami Museum in Aceh, displaying 50 photos by 12 photographers that captured the moments when the tragedy struck and its aftermath.
Locals in Aceh will also raise the Indonesian flag in half mast for three days until Wednesday, while the fishermen and fishing community refrained from going fishing to the sea in respect to those who lost their lives.
Giving alms and joining evacuation drills
Communities in the six tsunami-hit provinces of Thailand – Phuket, Krabi, Phang-nga, Ranong, Satun and Trang – held commemorative activities such as giving alms to Buddhist monks for the disaster that killed almost 5,400 people in Thailand.
Activities in the south-western Phang-Nga province were community-based and locals were encouraged to join evacuation drills and educational activities so they were prepared in case another disaster struck, said Maitree Kongkraijak, co-ordinator for the tsunami disaster network representing Ban Nam Khem community.
In Thailand, evacuation drills are held annually on December 26 in the six provinces which are still at risk of tsunamis. More than 100 warning towers have been placed along the eastern and western coasts of Thailand.
The tsunami struck in 2014 during peak tourist season at the beaches and islands of Thailand, killing thousands of holidaymakers as well as workers and villagers.
Floated offerings and minute of silence
In India, where more than 12,400 people lost their lives, thousands of people in coastal districts joined rallies, prayers and memorial ceremonies to pay homage to the victims of the catastrophic 2004 tsunami.
People including school children offered prayers for the deceased at memorials, religious sites and cemeteries.
Villagers also floated offerings of milk and flowers into what they call “Mother Sea.”
Fishermen here also didn’t go to sea – like on the anniversary day every year – out of respect for the victims.
In Sri Lanka, those who lost family members gathered on the coastline in the southern part of the country.
They lit oil lamps, held memorial services and offered alms to bring blessings on those who perished in the tragedy.
The tsunami destroyed two-thirds of the coastline and claimed more than 33,000 lives in Sri Lanka, according to officials.
A minute of silence was marked nationwide by halting traffic and stopping regular television and radio programmes. (T/RS05/RS01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
