PHANGNGA, Dec26 (TNA) – Thailand marked the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami on Thursday, with ceremonies held in Phang-Nga province, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster.
At the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Site in Takua Pa district, hundreds of mourners, including Thai and foreign nationals, gathered for religious ceremonies to honor the victims of the tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004.
Families of the deceased from six Andaman coastal provinces – Ranong, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, and Satun, as well as foreign nationals from numerous countries, attended the events, which included Buddhist, Christian, and Islamic rites. Attendees shared meals, symbolizing unity and remembrance. Many placed flowers at the memorial wall.
Later in the day, a disaster preparedness forum was scheduled to take place at the Marriott Khao Lak Ban Nam Khem hotel. The forum, divided into five sessions, aimed to facilitate information exchange and learning among government agencies and the public regarding the lessons learned from the past two decades.
A candlelight vigil was also planned for 7 p.m. at the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Site. Deputy Interior Minister Sabida Thaiseth was expected to attend the vigil, along with families of victims from the six Andaman provinces and other countries. -819 (TNA)
