On December 26, 2004, just after Christmas, a 9.1 earthquake occurred in northern Sumatra, which immediately triggered a terrorist tsunami, sweeping the coastal areas of Indonesia , Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and nine other countries. According to the latest figures in 2019, nearly 230,000 people died in just one day, and Indonesia suffered the worst disaster, with at least 170,000 deaths. On the day when the survivors and the families of victims ushered in their 15th anniversary with pain, all the affected countries held memorial services.
AFP reported on December 26 that on Thursday local time, thousands of mourners gathered at the tomb of 10,000 people in Aceh Province, Indonesia to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami.
On a meadow in the Aceh Besal district, at least 47,000 victims were buried. Their families and relatives were praying, with petals scattered around and comforting each other.
This includes Nurhayati, who lost her youngest daughter in a disaster. At the age of 65, she told AFP with sobs, "I come here every year because I miss her very much. She is only 17 years old and has just started to go to college." "15 years have passed, but until now, every time I see the ocean, even on TV, I feel that a big wave is coming."
That year, this terrifying tsunami killed nearly 170,000 people in Qi Province. The huge tsunami caused by the earthquake also caused 50,000 deaths in countries around the Indian Ocean, even as far as Somalia.
This disaster that destroyed much of the province left about 500,000 people homeless. Mohamed Ikraula was only 13 years old when the tsunami hit, and his parents and younger brothers and sisters were killed. He moved around, living with relatives and parents’ friends until he could support himself.
28-year-old said, "I'm still traumatized and I don't think I'll forget what happened." The remains of his family have never been found, but like most people who come to this collective cemetery every year, Ikraula just wants to pray for his loved ones, although their remains may not be buried there.
Years after the disaster, the body is still being found. In 2018, dozens of bodies were found in a newly built residential area. Some people never find a place where their families are buried. Joni said, "I don't know where my mother was buried," "but I've been here because I think she's close to me."
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