Indonesia remembers deadly Boxing Day tsunami, 15 years on

The tsunami, which reached almost 30 metres high, was sparked by a monstrous 9.3 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra

It killed more than 220,000 people across a string of Indian Ocean countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia

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Fishing boats destroyed by a tsunami are seen in Kebumen, Indonesia’s Central Java. Photo: AP

Published: 12:59pm, 26 Dec 2019Updated: 10:07pm, 26 Dec 2019

Thursday marks 15 years since Dery Setyawan’s whole world was turned upside down – the day a devastating tsunami swept most of his family and friends to their deaths and almost entirely destroyed his hometown of Lampuuk.

The tsunami, which reached almost 30 metres high, was sparked by a monstrous 9.3 magnitude earthquake that struck undersea off the coast of Sumatra on December 26, 2004. It killed more than 220,000 across a string of Indian Ocean countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

Volunteers carry a body as they walk past a truck destroyed by the tsunami in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on January 22, 2005. Photo: EPA

Reaching as far as East Africa, the tsunami unleashed energy equivalent to 23,000 atomic bombs of the sort that was dropped on Hiroshima – and is considered among the deadliest natural disasters in history.

Indonesia was hardest hit with at least 170,000 killed, though the true death toll is likely to be higher as many bodies have yet to be recovered or identified.

The Indonesian city of Banda Aceh reported the highest number of casualties. Hastily dug mass graves are still being uncovered from the area with dozens of bodies pulled from the ground over the past year, including a woman whose driving licence was still in a wallet tucked into her trousers pocket.

A visitor looks at a wall with the names of victims at the Tsunami Museum in Banda Aceh. Photo: EPA