Memorial services mark 20 years since devastating Boxing Day tsunami claimed 230,000 lives
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Indonesia and Thailand are marking 20 years since a tsunami caused the death of hundreds of thousands of people in one of the worst natural disasters in modern history. People started gathering in prayer today and visiting mass graves in Aceh, one of the worst-hit areas by the Boxing Day Indian Ocean tsunami which saw an estimated 230,000 people killed across a dozen countries.
The tsunami was triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake that struck off the west coast of North Sumatra, Indonesia, at 7.59am local time on 26 December 2004. Indonesia was the country with highest number of deaths, but India, Sri Lanka and Thailand were also badly hit.
Many wept openly at the mass grave in Ulee Lheue village, where more than 14,000 unidentified and unclaimed tsunami victims are buried. It is one of several mass graves in Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesia's northernmost province. Footage showed people visiting a mass grave in Siron to remember the victims of an event that shocked the world.
In Thailand, people gathered in Phang Nga province to honour the victims and those affected. Indonesia: French death row inmate makes last-ditch plea to return to home country as thousands set to be pardoned. Indonesia landslides and flash floods kill at least 27 - with rescuers searching for vehicles trapped in mud.
Mt Lewotobi Laki Laki: At least 10 killed after volcano erupts on Indonesian island of Flores. To mark the 20th anniversary of the disaster, Sky News has spoken to people who survived the tsunami, one of whom lost his brother to the huge waves while they holidayed together in Thailand.
