Prayers and tears on the twentieth anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed about 230,000 people

People began gathering for prayers today, Thursday, to visit mass graves in the Indonesian province of Aceh, marking the 20th anniversary of the deadly tsunami in the Indian Ocean, one of the worst natural disasters in modern history.

Many wept openly at the mass grave in the village of Uli Loi, where more than 14,000 unidentified and unclaimed tsunami victims were buried. It is one of several mass graves in Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia’s northernmost province. This was one of the areas most affected by the earthquake and tsunami, along with Aceh Besar.

A powerful 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on December 26, 2004 led to a tsunami that killed about 230,000 people in twelve countries, and reached East Africa.

About 1.7 million people have been displaced, most of them in the four most affected countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. More than 170,000 people died in Indonesia alone.

Although 20 years have passed, the grief remains and survivors still remember loved ones lost to the huge waves that flattened buildings in most of Aceh’s coastal areas – all the way to the city of Banda Aceh.

Watch | CBC reports from Banda Aceh in 2004:

Banda Aceh Tsunami: CBC News Sunday 2004

CBC News correspondent Evan Solomon reports from Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami.

Aceh’s infrastructure has been rebuilt and is now more resilient than it was before the tsunami. Early warning systems have been installed in coastal areas to alert residents of a possible tsunami, providing crucial time to seek safety.

The rebuilding efforts have been made possible thanks to the support of donors and international organizations, which have contributed significant funds to help the region recover.

Schools, hospitals and basic infrastructure destroyed by the disaster have been rebuilt with greater strength and durability, ensuring better preparation to face the challenges of the future.

The tsunami also claimed the lives of more than 8,000 people in Thailand, including many who are still missing, leaving a deep scar in the country’s history. Nearly 400 bodies remain unidentified and unclaimed.