A wave of unprecedented destruction swept through the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004, claiming the lives of approximately 230,000 people in 14 countries. The tsunami, triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off Indonesia’s Sumatra island, left entire communities in ruins.
The hardest hit was Indonesia’s Aceh province, where over 170,000 perished. Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand also suffered massive losses, with Sri Lanka and India losing over 40,000 and 12,000 people respectively.
Recovering bodies from the rubble took days, with some communities cut off for weeks. In Banda Aceh, only one mosque, the Rahmatullah Lampuuk Mosque, survived the waves, becoming a center for aid and relief efforts.
As the world came together to rebuild and grieve, survivors faced unimaginable challenges. Families were torn apart, and entire villages were erased from existence. The disaster was a stark reminder of nature’s power and humanity’s resilience.
Twenty years on, the memories of that fateful day remain etched in the minds of those who lived through it. As we reflect on this tragedy, we honor the lives lost and the communities rebuilt, and we continue to work towards a world where such disasters are less likely to occur.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/world/asia/tsunami-anniversary-photos.html