Tsunami memorial service held in Thailand

PHANG-NGA, THAILAND, December 27 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn, as well as senior officers of the United Nations have attended a ceremony in Takua Pa area of Phang-nga Province to commemorate the 10-year-old tsunami disaster, which struck areas along the southern Andaman coast. Prime Minister General Prayut said in his speech at Friday evening's tsunami memorial service, a candle lighting event amid grievances atmosphere and heavy rain, that a number of Thais and foreigners lost their lives, while houses were destroyed exactly 10 years ago in the disastrous tsunami. The prime minister praised assistance given from every corner of the world following the catastrophe, suggesting that people learned from the historic tragedy to cope with natural disasters in order to protect themselves and to reduce property damage. Thailand saw 5,395 people killed by the tragic disaster, half of whom were foreign holidaymakers. (TNA)