Prayers, tears mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed an estimated 230,000 people
People began gathering in prayer on Thursday, visiting mass graves in Indonesia's Aceh province 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 unknown and unknown tsunami victims are buried. It is one of the many cemeteries in Banda Aceh, the capital of the northern province of Indonesia. It was one of the most affected areas by the earthquake and tsunami, along with Aceh Besar region.
A 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Dec. 26, 2004, caused a tsunami that killed about 230,000 people in twelve countries, reaching as far as East Africa.
About 1.7 million people have been displaced, mostly in the four most affected countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. More than 170,000 people died in Indonesia alone.
Even after 20 years, the grief is still there and the survivors are still missing their loved ones, lost in the huge waves that hit buildings in many coastal areas of Aceh – all the way to the city of Banda Aceh.
CBC News reporter Evan Solomon reports from Banda Aceh, Indonesia on the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami.
The infrastructure in Aceh has been rebuilt and is now more resilient than it was before the tsunami hit. Early warnings have been posted in coastal areas to warn residents of potential tsunamis, providing valuable time to seek safety.
Reconstruction efforts have been made possible with the support of international donors and organizations, who have contributed large sums of money to help the region recover.
Schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure destroyed by the disaster have been rebuilt with improved strength and durability, ensuring better preparedness for future challenges.
The tsunami also took the lives of more than 8,000 people in Thailand, including many who are still missing, leaving a deep scar in the nation's history. About 400 bodies are still unidentified and unclaimed.
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