The joint prayer for the victims was held at the Escape Building in Lambung Village, Banda Aceh, on Thursday.
In addition to the prayer, the activity was combined with a screening of a video of the disaster two decades ago and the post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction process in the area.
Lambung Village Head Yasir remarked that the activity was a reflection of the journey of the survivors of the earthquake and tsunami 20 years ago and praying for the martyrs who died during the disaster.
"The prayer for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami of December 26, 2004, is an annual agenda. This year is the 20th. We hope that the disaster 20 years ago will be a shared experience and learning experience," he noted.
Yasir stated that Lambung's residents, who were victims of the disasters, reached two thousand, while less than 100 survived.
"Those who survived after being swept away by sea water during the tsunami were 20 people. While the others survived because they were outside the village or in an area that was not hit by the tsunami," Yasir stated.
Lambung Village is located about two kilometers from the edge of Ulee Ulee Beach. After the catastrophic event in late 2004, just a single dwelling remained partially standing in the area, while all other structures were completely destroyed.
During the rehabilitation and reconstruction period after the disaster, Lambung was constructed based on a disaster-friendly concept with wide road access and a five-story rescue building.
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Translator: M Haris Setiady Agus, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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