In memory of the tsunami 20 years later

The first report by a local journalist on December 26, 2004 at 8:20 AM was simple: “Giant waves hit Phuket,” announced a reporter working for Channel 11 (now NBT2).

He excitedly mentioned the rise of large waves hitting the island’s Patong Beach. There were casualties, but he did not elaborate. What followed became the history of tectonic proportions. Nobody who heard this initial report realized the severity of the “big waves.”

It took several hours before the rest of the world understood the full extent of the unspeakable loss of lives and property that was slowly being counted and reported.

Twenty years ago, the Thai people had no idea that the Indian Ocean tsunami would have such a devastating impact on the entire region and their communities. The casualties were high, with nearly 300,000 persons killed across 14 countries.

Thailand was one of them affected by the tsunami, which damaged and destroyed six provinces in southern Thailand (Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Satun, Trang, and Ranong).

More than 400 villages were affected, including world-renowned tourist resorts like Khao Lak. A total of 5,396 people were killed in Thailand—2,060 Thais and 2,436 foreign tourists. In Phang Nga alone, there were 1,390 Thai casualties and 2,114 foreigners.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently marked the 20th anniversary of the tsunami in Thailand to share lessons learned from this unprecedented event.

The occasion also honored the victims and those affected by the disaster. Furthermore, Thailand wanted to showcase its progress in disaster management and promote awareness and preparedness for future disasters.

Indeed after the disaster, the Japanese word “tsunami” has become part of Thai vocabulary, carrying extraordinary meaning for all Thais, especially those living along the Andaman Sea.

It is a frightening word that warns people in the vicinity to evacuate once it is heard. Before the disaster, many Thais had limited knowledge of tsunamis, referring to such events as giant waves without understanding their catastrophic potential.

Most importantly, the Thai national psyche has been forever changed. Thailand is no longer complacent about early warnings of possible natural disasters that may impact their coastal communities or any other areas.

Since the tsunami, government and non-governmental organizations have conducted extensive disaster education campaigns to teach people how to respond during emergencies.

Throughout coastal areas, local authorities and communities have implemented disaster response plans and training drills.

Meanwhile, at present the world witnesses rapid and diverse changes due to severe climate change that has intensified global warming and triggered an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters including storms, floods, wildfires, and tsunamis.

These challenges demand cooperative efforts from all sectors to prioritize environmental preservation to mitigate long-term impacts locally, regionally, and globally.

In retrospect, listening to reflections from officials and concerned departments reveals how remarkable it was that Thailand managed to handle the aftermath of a natural disaster of this scale.

Just imagine, after sharing an initial report, all governmental departments were alerted and asked to assist.

Obviously, nobody knew what was happening; there were no experts to call upon, no data available, no coordination—only duty calls and Buddha’s blessings to go to affected areas.

No one in Thailand had ever dealt with managing the deaths of more than 5,000 people in modern Thai history.

It would take years before most of the victims were accounted for. Local and central authorities had to manage and process all data regarding numerous victims' remains under immense international pressure.

At Bangmaruan Cemetery in Phang Nga, Thai authorities are still unable to identify about 350 bodies that have been buried for nearly two decades.

After the tsunami, this cemetery served as a forensic center for victim identification.

During the first two years after the tsunami, thanks to collaboration between foreign experts and local police from Disaster Victim Identification teams, over 3,600 bodies were identified.

Today, almost all coastal communities—particularly those affected by the tsunami—have established local disaster response plans and organized training drills.

In addition, in 2007, the government enacted the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act to provide a clear legal framework for disaster risk reduction and response.

Over the past decades, governments have invested significantly in developing and maintaining tsunami warning systems including sirens, monitoring buoys, and evacuation routes.

The 20th anniversary serves as an opportunity to assess these efforts for preparedness and efficiency.

Both the country and coastal communities must remain vigilant since tsunamis can occur at any moment; complacency must not be allowed to set in.