Yesterday, communities along Thailand’s Andaman coast held ceremonies to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, which claimed 230,000 lives across 14 countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, Bangkok Post reports.
Events were held at key locations such as Mai Khao Cemetery and Patong Beach in Phuket, the Tsunami Memorial Park in Phangnga, and Ao Nang Beach in Krabi. Participants, both local and foreign, gathered to honor lost loved ones through religious rites, moments of silence, and symbolic acts like flower-laying and underwater memorials.
Many foreign tourists also lost their lives during the tsunami, including 46 Danes, 84 Norwegians, and 543 Swedes.
In Phangnga, one of Thailand’s worst-hit provinces, more than 1,000 survivors and relatives attended ceremonies, including a candlelight vigil. Ms. Urai Sirisuk, 62, who lost her 4-year-old daughter, shared her enduring pain. “The sea took my daughter away. I cannot bring myself to go near it,” she said.
The disaster struck on December 26, 2004, when a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off Indonesia triggered massive waves that devastated coastal areas. In Thailand, over 5,400 lives were lost, including many foreign tourists.
Commemorative events also included an academic forum to strengthen disaster preparedness and promote sustainable safety. Norwegian survivor Ronny Karlsen described the ceremonies as a way to honor those who perished and keep the memory of that day alive.
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Danish victims of Tsunami will be remembered in memorial on December 26 in Phang Nga, Thailand
