Dec 26, 2014

December 26 marks the 10th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the deadliest on record, which smashed into 13 Asian and African countries, swallowing up lives and homes and changing the coastline forever.

Reuters photographer Damir Sagolj documented sites hit by the tsunami in Thailand, where over 5,300 people were killed, including several thousand foreign tourists, when the waves swamped six coastal provinces, turning some of the world’s most beautiful beaches into mass graves. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and the Maldives were the worst affected by the 9.15 magnitude earthquake, which left 226,000 people dead or missing and more than half a million homeless.

: Tourists walk behind a faded sign warning of tsunami hazard in Khao Lak, Phang Nga province December 15, 2014. Ahead of the anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, experts and officials say key weaknesses remain across the region in the system designed to warn people of the next disaster, and get them to safety.

: An open metal coffin is seen as a worker paints flag poles at the Tsunami Victims Cemetery outside Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014. Tsunami monuments are being refurbished and grass around victims’ graves cut as Thailand prepares to mark the tenth anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, the deadliest on the record, that killed at least 226,000 people in 13 Asian and African countries.

: Dogs are seen at a crematorium at the former tsunami victims identification centre near Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 15, 2014. Over 400 bodies of victims of the 2004 tsunami, including 369 still unidentified, are buried in the cemetery across the road from the former victims’ centre where thousands were identified following the disaster.

: A chair and urns are seen behind a crematorium at the former tsunami victims identification centre near Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014. Over 400 bodies of victims of the 2004 tsunami, including 369 still unidentified, are buried in the cemetery across the road from the former victims’ centre where thousands were identified following the disaster.

: A man who lives with his dogs at the former tsunami victims identification centre dismantles a wooden frame near Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014. Over 400 bodies of victims of the 2004 tsunami, including 369 still unidentified, are buried in the cemetery across the road from the former victims’ centre where thousands were identified following the disaster.

: A dog is seen behind stretchers on wheels at the former tsunami victims identification centre near Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014. Over 400 bodies of victims of the 2004 tsunami, including 369 still unidentified, are buried in the cemetery across the road from the former victims’ centre where thousands were identified following the disaster.

: Religious statues are seen at a spirit house at the former tsunami victims identification centre near Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014. Over 400 bodies of victims of the 2004 tsunami, including 369 still unidentified, are buried in the cemetery across the road from the former victims’ centre where thousands were identified following the disaster.

: Pictures of victims are seen at the former tsunami victims identification centre near Ban Nam Khem, Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014. Over 400 bodies of victims of the 2004 tsunami, including 369 still unidentified, are buried in the cemetery across the road from the former victims’ centre where thousands were identified following the disaster.

: A visitor walks on a wave-shaped tsunami monument in Ban Nam Khem, December 13, 2014. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: Dense vegetation is seen around an abandoned hotel that was destroyed in the 2004 tsunami in Khao Lak, in Phang Nga province, December 14, 2014.

: A tourist enters the ocean in Khao Lak, Phang Nga province December 15, 2014.

: Tourists take a picture of themselves at Patong beach which was badly hit by 2004 tsunami in Phuket, one of Asia’s premier resort islands, December 15, 2014.

: Tourists are seen at Patong beach which was badly hit by 2004 tsunami in Phuket, one of Asia’s premier resort islands, December 15, 2014.

: Local people rest in hammocks in Ban Nam Khem, December 13, 2014. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: Soe, the eight-year-old daughter of a fisherman from Myanmar, rests in a hammock outside her family home in Ban Nam Khem December 13, 2014. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: Manee, the 45-year-old wife of an unemployed fisherman from Myanmar, prepares betel nuts after showing pictures of her children killed in the 2004 tsunami at her home in Ban Nam Khem, December 13, 2014. Manee lost all her three children aged three, four and nine when tsunami hit a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast on December 26, 2004. Following the disaster, she and her husband returned to Myanmar but came back to Ban Nam Khem few years after looking for a job. They have two children now.

: Foreign tourists walk on a small beach with fallen big trees and damage still visible from the 2004 tsunami in Khao Lak, in Phang Nga province, about 110 km (68 miles) north of the resort island of Phuket, December 14, 2014.

: A son of a migrant fisherman from Myanmar rests in a hammock at a former shrimp warehouse where his family lives in Ban Nam Khem, December 13, 2014. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: Buddhist monks look at the Thai navy police boat which was swept almost 2 km (1.2 miles) inland during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami as they visit a memorial in Khao Lak, in Thailand’s Phang Nga province, about 110 km (68 miles) north of the resort island of Phuket, December 14, 2014. On the day of tsunami, Thai navy boat 813 was on patrol about one nautical mile offshore serving as a guard to members of royal family staying at one of the resorts near-by.

: A migrant fisherman from Myanmar prepares to go fishing on his small boat in Ban Nam Khem, December 14, 2014. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: A barber is reflected in a mirror as he cuts a customer’s hair at his shop in Ban Nam Khem, December 13, 2014. Therasak, a local barber who survived 2004 tsunami with his family members, returned to the village soon after disaster but says his 22-year-old daughter still suffers from tsunami related illness. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: Migrant fishermen from Myanmar clean equipment after returning from the ocean to Ban Nam Khem, December 14, 2014. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: Foreign tourists walk on a small beach with fallen trees and damage still visible from the 2004 tsunami in Khao Lak, in Phang Nga province, about 110 km (68 miles) north of the resort island of Phuket, December 14, 2014.

: A child is reflected in a mirror at barber’s home in Ban Nam Khem, December 13, 2014. Therasak, a local barber who survived 2004 tsunami with his family members, returned to the village soon after disaster but says his 22 year old daughter still suffers from tsunami related illness. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: A pair of flip-flops are left on a small wooden boat that ferries villagers and tourists from Ban Nam Khem December 14, 2014. Ban Nam Khem, a small fishing village on Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast and home to a large migrant workers’ community, lost nearly half of its 5,000 population in the tsunami.

: A worker paints flag poles at the Tsunami Victims Cemetery outside Ban Nam Khem in Phang Nga province, about 110 km (68 miles) north of the resort island of Phuket, December 16, 2014.

: A man looks into the Tsunami Victims Cemetery as a worker painting flag poles casts a shadow outside Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014.

: A memorial plaque is left at the Tsunami Victims Cemetery outside Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014. Tsunami monuments are being refurbished and grass around victims’ graves cut as Thailand prepares to mark the tenth anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, the deadliest on the record, that killed at least 226,000 people in 13 Asian and African countries.

: Gravestones are seen at the Tsunami Victims Cemetery near the former identification centre outside Ban Nam Khem, in Phang Nga province, December 12, 2014. Over 400 bodies of victims of the 2004 tsunami, including 369 still unidentified, are buried in the cemetery across the road from the former victims’ centre where thousands were identified following the disaster.

Indian Ocean tsumani, 10 years on

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