KHAO LAK: A group of Santas sang carols last night at the cemetery where about 370 unnamed victims of the 2004 tsunami are buried.
The cemetery has been cleared of undergrowth ready for today's anniversary of the December 26, 2004 disaster.
Christian missionary Jason Goh, a Singaporean who was in Bangkok when the tsunami came and has since worked tirelessly to restore Nam Khem (Salt Water) village, where the wave killed about 800 villagers, led the cheering sing-along and prayers.
He started the Community Development Centre in the hard-hit fishing village in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, after the tsunami killed 5400 people in Thailand and devastated the ribbon of Andaman coastline.
''We set out to let people know there is hope,'' he said. ''The government has done a tremendous job with infrastructure, not just replacing it but improving it.
Leaders in the village have also done a terrific job. The economy and education have been restored.
''Their spirit, their morale is back.'' Mr Goh said.
He said there was also an excellent disaster warning and evacuation system in place, with volunteers and regular drills. ''As a villager now, I feel very safe in the village,'' he said.
The main ceremony for the Andaman coast will be held at the large memorial in Nam Khem this morning, with other ceremonies throughout the day and evening at Patong, Mai Khao, Phi Phi, Khao Lak and other places.
The identification process for nameless victims of the tsunami involved more than 40 countries. Those who have yet to be named lie in special graves at Baan Bang Maruan, north of Phuket.
In Khao Lak, where Patrol Boat 813 was swept more than a kilometre inland, work is underway on a major tsunami information centre that should be ready for the ninth anniversary next year.
Although some people would like the tsunami to be forgotten, that's unlikely. The danger of a second tsunami being triggered by another undersea earthquake is unlikely, but possible.
The cemetery has been cleared of undergrowth ready for today's anniversary of the December 26, 2004 disaster.
Christian missionary Jason Goh, a Singaporean who was in Bangkok when the tsunami came and has since worked tirelessly to restore Nam Khem (Salt Water) village, where the wave killed about 800 villagers, led the cheering sing-along and prayers.
He started the Community Development Centre in the hard-hit fishing village in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, after the tsunami killed 5400 people in Thailand and devastated the ribbon of Andaman coastline.
''We set out to let people know there is hope,'' he said. ''The government has done a tremendous job with infrastructure, not just replacing it but improving it.
Leaders in the village have also done a terrific job. The economy and education have been restored.
''Their spirit, their morale is back.'' Mr Goh said.
He said there was also an excellent disaster warning and evacuation system in place, with volunteers and regular drills. ''As a villager now, I feel very safe in the village,'' he said.
The main ceremony for the Andaman coast will be held at the large memorial in Nam Khem this morning, with other ceremonies throughout the day and evening at Patong, Mai Khao, Phi Phi, Khao Lak and other places.
The identification process for nameless victims of the tsunami involved more than 40 countries. Those who have yet to be named lie in special graves at Baan Bang Maruan, north of Phuket.
In Khao Lak, where Patrol Boat 813 was swept more than a kilometre inland, work is underway on a major tsunami information centre that should be ready for the ninth anniversary next year.
Although some people would like the tsunami to be forgotten, that's unlikely. The danger of a second tsunami being triggered by another undersea earthquake is unlikely, but possible.
