Memorial museum planned

TSUNAMI ANNIVERSARY

Phuket : The Thai Tsunami Victim Identification (TTVI) unit in Phangnga province may be developed into a multi-purpose museum to promote tourism.

The unit is located at the Bang Maruan cemetery in Takua Pa district of the Andaman coastal province where the remains of the unidentified bodies of the tsunami victims are kept.

Unit manager Nitinai Sornsongkhram thinks the cemetery should serve a dual purpose in the longer term.

Remembrance services on Patong Beach at Phuket

He discussed the possibility of turning the place into a museum during the tsunami remembrance ceremonies in Phangnga and Phuket to mark the fourth anniversary of the Dec 26 disaster that hit Thailand's six Andaman coastal provinces, killing more than 5,000 people four years ago today.

The six provinces - Phangnga, Krabi, Phuket, Ranong, Trang and Satun - were struck by a series of monster waves on Dec 26, 2004, which claimed the lives of more than 5,000 Thai and foreign holidaymakers.

"There will also be an exhibition on Khun Poom Jensen, Princess Ubolratana's only son, who was also swept away by the savage waves in Phangnga on that tragic day.

"Seminar and training rooms would be built to educate state agencies and the public on the tsunamis," Mr Nitinai said.

He also proposed that a new tsunami warning centre be set up at the cemetery.

He said the cemetery could be used as a central point for holding commemorative events in only one place each year to cut costs.

Mr Nitinai said more than 5,000 died in the disaster. The Royal Thai Police Office had received 3,696 bodies for identification. Of these, 3,308 were identified and claimed by relatives.

Today, 388 bodies have yet to be identified and have remained unclaimed.

Mr Nitinai said the unclaimed bodies will be buried at the cemetery.

He said the future of the TTVI centre was not guaranteed and it would be up to the police, who supervise the centre, to consider whether it should be closed down or not.

Hundreds of people attended the religious ceremonies.At Khao Lak in Phangnga, Buddhist, Muslim and Christian religious rites were held in remembrance of the victims in the morning. In the evening, 177 hot-air lanterns were lit and released into the sky.

In Phuket, separate religious ceremonies were held at Patong and Kamala beaches and at the Mai Khao cemetery yesterday.