Chronology of the 2004 Tsunami Disaster in Aceh
The giant tsunami wave devastated Aceh on 26 December 2004. There was a great earthquake on the seafloor near Simeuleu Island. Here's the chronology of the tsunami disaster 12 years ago.
December 26, 2004: At 7.59 local time, a magnitude 9.1 to 9.3 magnitude earthquake shook the sea floor in southwest Sumatra, about 20 to 25 kilometers offshore. In just a few hours, the tsunami waves from the earthquake hit the mainland of Africa.
December 27: The United Nations (UN) declared the tsunami in Aceh the greatest humanitarian disaster ever. International aid began to be moved towards the disaster area. The worst areas hit by the tsunami are Aceh, Khao Lak in Thailand and parts of Sri Lanka and India.
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Worst
The province of Aceh in the north of Sumatra Island is the worst hit by the tsunami. At least 130,000 people are killed in this area alone. This image was taken January 8, 2005 in Banda Aceh, two weeks after the rush of the tsunami.
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Reconstruction
Ten years later, Banda Aceh rose again. Roads, bridges, ports have been built again. The World Bank calls Aceh "the most successful reconstruction effort". The image of the provincial capital of Aceh was made in December 2014.
TSUNAMI ACEH FIRST AND NOW
Refugees
After being hit by an earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale and hit by giant waves over ten meters high, many Acehnese became refugees. Across Southeast Asia, 1.5 million people are homeless. This picture shows people who saw the ruins of their homes a few days after the tsunami disaster.
TSUNAMI ACEH FIRST AND NOW
Rebuilt
The 2004 Christmas tsunami disaster attracted the attention of the world's most lively citizens. Many of the buildings were finally repaired, many areas were successfully rebuilt. This image was made in December 2014 in Lampulo, Banda Aceh. "Ship at the top of the house" so a warning about that terrible event.
TSUNAMI ACEH FIRST AND NOW
Destruction around the mosque
The giant waves that struck Aceh killed more than 100,000 people and caused severe damage. This image was made in January 2005 and shows the Lampuuk area in Banda Aceh that was destroyed, except the mosque that survived from the brunt of water.
TSUNAMI ACEH FIRST AND NOW
Ten years later
The mosque at Lampuuk is restored and the surrounding area is restyled. People's houses were rebuilt around the mosque. This picture was taken ten years after the devastation caused by the tsunami.
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Great earthquakes
Before the tsunami emerged, a devastating earthquake struck northern Sumatra on December 26, 2004. The quake triggered a giant wave that reached at least 11 countries, including Australia and Tanzania. This picture shows the damage in Banda Aceh.
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Built better after peace
The international aid coming to Aceh provides an opportunity for people to rebuild their area better. In 2005, talks between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) group resulted in a peace agreement, after mediation from Europe.
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The view is terrible
US journalist Kira Kay wrote about his experience when he arrived in Banda Aceh after the tsunami: "Bodies lying buried under the rubble, then the bodies were transported by truck to a mass burial site. This picture shows the atmosphere of the Great Mosque in Banda Aceh after the tsunami.
TSUNAMI ACEH FIRST AND NOW
big mosque
The atmosphere of the Grand Mosque now. Aceh now enjoys the status of a special autonomous region, with extensive powers of self-government. Based on that authority, Aceh now calls itself the Province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) and implements Islamic Sharia.
