Where in Phuket can you learn about the 2004 tsunami?
Insider's Response
Phuket’s history includes a tragedy that shocked the entire world. On December 26, 2004, an underwater earthquake with a magnitude of about 9.1 off the coast of Sumatra triggered a powerful tsunami that struck the shores of 14 countries. The waves traveled at high speed, and within hours the destructive surge reached the coasts of the Andaman Sea.
In memory of this tragedy, the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Museum was opened in Phang Nga Province, not far from Phuket. The museum serves as a reminder of the destructive power of nature. Its halls contain items that survived the tsunami, including a striking fishing boat washed hundreds of meters inland.
Many people are interested in the facts about this event and how many people died in the 2004 tsunami:
● The 2004 tsunami became one of the deadliest in history, with a total death toll of around 230,000 people.
● According to various sources, about 5,400 people died in Thailand, 8,457 were injured, and 3,716 went missing. The victims included both locals and foreigners.
● Phang Nga Province, where Ban Nam Khem is located, suffered particularly heavy losses. That is why the museum was opened there.
This tragedy pushed the government and local communities to improve tsunami-warning mechanisms: the country installed alert systems, developed evacuation routes, and prepared shelters.
The physical traces of the tragedy have long been washed away by the sea, but Thailand still remembers these events. A movie based on the 2004 tsunami, The Impossible, was also released.