PHUKET — Authorities in the southern province of Phuket held ceremonies in memory of the victims and heroes of the Indian Ocean tsunami 11 years ago.
The ceremonies included religious ones at several venues on the island province. There were a memorial at the Phuket provincial hall, a Buddhist ceremony at the Laem Phet monastery near Hat Pa Tong beach, a Christian ceremony on Hat Bang Thao beach, an Islamic ceremony at the Mai Khao cemetery, Buddhist, Islamic and Christian ceremonies at Sunwing Resort Kamala Beach Hotel, and an anniversary ceremony at a local tsunami memorial.
In the evening, there would be an exhibition, a mourning ceremony and a Buddhist teaching at Patong beach.
“The activities marking the 11th anniversary of the tsunami should make people and governmental organisations aware of the damage and the need for disaster prevention and relief measures,” Phuket governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada said.
On Dec 26, 2004, the 9.1-magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami that struck off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, and hit coastal communities across the Indian Ocean. In Thailand alone, the deadly wave hit the six Andaman coastal provinces of Krabi, Phangnga, Phuket, Ranong, Satun and Trang.
Khao Lak beach and Ban Nam Khem village in Phangnga's Takua Pa district, Patong beach and Mai Khao beach in Phuket's Thalang district and Phi Phi island in Krabi were largely flattened by the deadly earthquake and subsequent waves.
The tragedy left an estimated 5,400 people dead and 2,800 missing in Thailand.