2004 tsunami remembered in Thailand

BANGKOK, December 26 (TNA) - Authorities in coastal provinces facing the Andaman Sea in the Thai South on Wednesday organized ceremonies to remember losses in the Indian Ocean tsunami eight years ago. In Phang-nga, marine police, international tourists and local villagers attended a ceremony to remember the dead at a memorial in Baan Bang Niang of the Khuek Khak locality in Takua Pa district. A similar ceremony was held at the Bang Muang Temple in the Bang Muang locality of Phang-nga's Takua Pa district, where the ashes of several Thai and foreign people who died in the tragic tsunami are kept. Buddhist, Christian and Muslim ceremonies were also conducted at another tsunami memorial in Baan Nam Khem of the Bang Muang locality in Phang-nga's Takua Pa district, where the lion’s share of dead people was recorded and five hundred sky lanterns were set to be released to remember the dead Wednesday evening. In Phuket, religious and mourning ceremonies took place at a memorial on the Hat Mai Khao Beach in Thalang district. In Krabi, over 300 villagers and relatives of the dead conducted religious ceremonies on the Phi Phi Island in the Ao Nang locality of Mueang district to pray for over 700 people who died there. The people also observed one minute’s silence and placed flowers; while a metal garland was also placed at an underwater tsunami memorial there. (TNA)