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Friday, 26 December 2014

Tsunami-hit nations mark anniversary

Relatives and friends of German victims of the Asian tsunami lay white roses on the beach during a commemoration and religious ceremony for German, Austrian and Swiss victims in Khao Lak, Thailand, Friday, Dec. 26, 2014In Indonesia's province of Aceh - the worst hit area - Vice-President Jusuf Kalla led tributes to the dead at the Siron mass grave.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha also laid a wreath of remembrance.
More than 200,000 people died when an underwater earthquake set off massive waves on 26 December 2004.
In Aceh's capital, Banda Aceh, Mr Kalla thanked local volunteers and the outside world for helping Aceh recover from the tragedy. He also presented awards to ambassadors from the donor nations.
"Thousands of corpses were sprawled in this field" he said. "Tears that fell at that time... there were feelings of confusion, shock, sorrow, fear and suffering. We prayed."
Earlier, thousands of people earlier gathered at the city's Great Mosque - a 19th Century building that was one of the few structures in the town to survive the tsunami.
The mosque's imam, Asman Ismail, said the tsunami had taught a "valuable lesson" to Aceh, which had been the scene of an armed conflict for nearly 30 years.
"After the tsunami, no-one fights against each other, people live in harmony and peace till this day," he said.
Efforts to end the conflict resumed after the tsunami, culminating in a peace deal between the government and the rebels in August 2005.
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In Thailand, people are marking the anniversary with a series of solemn events and religious rites throughout the day.
Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla delivers a speech during a ceremony to commemorate 10th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami in Banda Aceh December 26, 2014Prime Minister Chan-ocha laid a wreath for victims at the site of a beached police boat that has become a symbol of the disaster.
Thai police boat 813 was swept nearly 2km (1.2 miles) in from the sea at Bang Niang near Phuket.
"This heavy loss serves as a reminder and lesson for everyone" he told thousands of guests.
Czech survivor Petra Nemcova, who lost her fiance in the tsunami, also spoke at the ceremony.
"I am thankful to all those who risked their lives to save me", she said.

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