Thailand commemorates victims of 2004 tsunami

SOUTHERN THAILAND, December 26 (TNA) - Thailand's southern Andaman coastal provinces have held memorial events for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the tragic disaster. In Krabi, Governor Phinit Boonlert presided over a multi-faith religious ceremony at Ao Tonsai on Phi Phi Island on Monday, in which locals and tourists particiapted to join merit makings for the victims. In Phang-nga Province, similar activities were organized at two sites, including the Ban Nam Khem tsunami memorial park and the police boat 813 in Takua Pa District which were both devastatingly hit by the gigantic tsunami waves on December 26, 2004. For the police boat 813 alone, it was swept two kilometers on shore from the sea, making the on-beach boat now become a symbol of the disaster in Takua Pa District. Locals also offered morning alms to Buddhist monks to make merits for their dead relatives even though some families still have relatives who remain missing. In neighboring Phuket, Thalang District Chief Wikrom Chakthee presided over a multi-faith religious rite at the tsunami memorial wall in Maikhao Sub-district and led local people to observe a one-minute moment of silence, while representatives from many countries laid wreaths of remembrance at the wall. The Thalang district chief said the site was once the mortuary of bodies sent from tsunami-ravaged six provinces for identification processes. Tsunami hit Thailand’s six southern Andaman coastal provinces on the so-called boxing day while a number of international tourists were enjoying holidays, leading to nearly 5,500 people died in Thailand, half of whom were foreign tourists. (TNA)