Devastation, peace and resilience: 2004 tsunami survivors reflect on changes 20 years on

It has been 20 years since a deadly earthquake and tsunami struck the coasts of a dozen countries around the Indian Ocean including Thailand and Indonesia. The December 26, 2004, event was among the deadliest natural disasters ever recorded, claiming more than 220,000 lives. For many survivors like Banlue Choosin, whose village in southern Thailand was severely impacted, the fear of another tsunami lingers in their minds. For others like Muharram Idris, a former insurgency fighter from Indonesia’s Aceh province, the tsunami was a divine sign that ended a decades-long conflict and gave rise to a path towards peace.