Asia marks 10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami

About 230,000 people were killed by the disaster. Many victims were never found or never identified.

Children take part in a ceremony to pay homage to tsunami victims at Threspuram beach in Tuticorin on Friday. Photo: N. Rajesh

Beachside memorials and religious services were planned across Asia to mark 10 years since the Indian Ocean tsunami slammed into a dozen nations and killed nearly a quarter million people.

Survivors, government officials, diplomats and family members of victims will attend ceremonies on Friday in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and elsewhere as part of the day’s solemn commemorations.

On December 26, 2004, the region’s most powerful earthquake in 40 years tore open the sea bed off Indonesia’s Sumatra, displacing billions of tonnes of water and sending waves roaring across the Indian Ocean at jetliner speeds as far away as East Africa.

About 230,000 people were killed by the disaster. Many victims were never found or never identified.