Religious Rites Held To Remember Tsunami Victims

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Religious rites held to remember tsunami victims

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Published on December 27, 2009

The relatives of the Thais and foreign tourists killed when a towering tsunami suddenly struck six Andaman coastal provinces on Boxing Day in 2004 yesterday attended religious rites in remembrance of their lost loved ones.

Five years on, 398 tsunami victim bodies still remain unclaimed.

In Phuket's Kathu district, relatives and friends of the victims joined a solemn merit-making ceremony at Loma Park in Patong Beach. They gave alms to 26 Buddhist monks, laid wreaths and stood in silent tribute to the deceased. Phuket also hosted an event at 6pm with the lighting of candles and release of flying lanterns.

Phuket Governor Wichai Prisangob said the island province, besides conducting tsunami drills, was now equipped with a well-maintained system of disaster warning towers as well as several mobile vehicles to alert the public to any approaching disaster.

In nearby Phang Nga, hundreds of people took part in a religious ceremony held at The tsunami monument at 10am in Ban Nam Khem village, which, along with Khao Lak Beach, was the worst hit area.

About 50 people including the representatives of 13 ambassadors observed a wreath-laying ceremony at Bang Maruan Cemetery.

Colonel Nithi Banthuwong, director of the Police's Victim Identification Centre, or Bang Maruan Morgue, said 28 bodies - 24 Burmese, three Thais and one Nepalese - were identified and stored in an air-conditioned container while waiting to be picked up by relatives, who had been notified.

If the next of kin won't pick up the remains within 30 days, he was authorised to have the bodies buried, like the 370 already interred in the cemetery.

In Krabi, four religious ceremonies were held on Phi Phi Island as 100 family and friends of the dead laid wreaths for those who perished in the giant waves.

At 1pm, an evacuation drill was performed by 100 people at the Bt15 million tsunami evacuation building, which was formally opened yesterday.

The devastating swell slammed into 13 countries and killed 226,000 people including over 5,000 in Thailand.

-- The Nation 2009/12/27

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[dumball]

"Now equipped with a WELL MAINTAINED warning sytem ? that is if , and only if , the factions stop quibbling on who has to replace the operative batteries , HHHHMMMMMM

[h90]

"Now equipped with a WELL MAINTAINED warning sytem ? that is if , and only if , the factions stop quibbling on who has to replace the operative batteries , HHHHMMMMMM

I don't know: how is the status of the warning system by now? Anyone knows?

[ArthurPewty]

Just an idea, but wouldn't money be better spent on something real. Monks, wreaths, temples and donations cost real money, but don't offer a real benefit. However, the same money spent on lifeguards, spotters, sirens and so on would!

2010 anyone?

[JetsetBkk]

Just an idea, but wouldn't money be better spent on something real. Monks, wreaths, temples and donations cost real money, but don't offer a real benefit. However, the same money spent on lifeguards, spotters, sirens and so on would!

2010 anyone?

I bet there won't be another tsunami like the 2004 one for at least 300 years. All this money is wasted - better spent on education.