Addressingthe event, Indonesian President Joko Widodo recalled the horriblemoments when a 9.3-magnitude earthquake on December 26, 2004, triggered amassive tsunami that hit 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean,claiming more than 230,000 lives and making hundreds of thousands ofothers missing.
Indonesia’s Aceh was worst hit with 126,741 deaths, 93,285 missing, and property damage up to 4.5 billion USD.
PresidentWidodo highlighted the vigorous recovery of Aceh in particular andIndonesian people in general as well as the international community’senormous assistance at some 8 billion USD.
Aceh Governor ZainiAbdullah said the Indian Ocean tsunami sent out a message that every oneneeds to act more responsibly to protect the environment and their ownexistence amid more regular and greater disasters caused by climatechange. Meanwhile, domestic and international cooperation in coping withglobal challenges is also a major experience from this incident.-VNA