Every year on December 26, the world pauses to remember one of the deadliest disasters in modern history. In 2004, a massive undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra triggered tsunamis across the Indian Ocean, affecting more than a dozen countries. From Indonesia and Sri Lanka to India and Thailand, entire coastal communities were altered within minutes.
More than 230,000 lives were lost and millions were displaced. Homes, livelihoods, schools, and health systems were destroyed. For survivors, the disaster did not end when the waves receded. The years that followed were shaped by grief, uncertainty, and the long work of rebuilding lives from the ground up. Even today, the memory of that morning lives on in coastal villages and families who continue to carry its emotional and economic weight.
In India, the impact was particularly severe along the eastern coastline. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands faced widespread destruction. Fishing communities were among the worst affected, losing not only their homes but also boats, nets, and access to the sea that sustained them. Recovery, for many, was about more than reconstruction. It was about restoring livelihoods, dignity, and a sense of safety in places that suddenly felt unpredictable.
The tsunami also exposed how unprepared the region was for a disaster of this scale. At the time, there was no Indian Ocean tsunami warning system. Many people did not recognise early warning signs such as the sudden retreat of the sea. Communication networks failed, and emergency responses were delayed simply because the magnitude of the disaster was beyond imagination. These gaps came at a devastating cost.
Two decades later, there has been undeniable progress. Tsunami early warning systems are now in place, disaster response mechanisms are stronger, and conversations around risk reduction are far more prominent. Coastal zoning, evacuation planning, and community awareness programmes are more common, supported by faster detection technologies and improved coordination between agencies.
Yet, December 26 is not only about acknowledging how far systems have come. It is also a reminder of how vulnerability persists, especially for those living in high-risk regions. Rapid coastal development, climate change, rising sea levels, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events continue to reshape risk. Preparedness cannot be treated as a one-time response to tragedy. It must be ongoing, inclusive, and rooted in the realities of everyday life.
One often-overlooked lesson from the 2004 tsunami is the importance of safety in spaces where people gather daily, especially schools. In many affected regions, schools were damaged or destroyed, disrupting education and exposing children to additional risks during and after the disaster. Since then, disaster resilience efforts have increasingly recognised that protecting children requires more than emergency relief. It requires safer school buildings, preparedness training for teachers and students, and clear response plans that can be activated when a crisis strikes.
Organisations such as SEEDS have worked to strengthen school safety as part of broader disaster risk reduction efforts, focusing on safer infrastructure, preparedness education, and community involvement. These initiatives highlight a critical shift in thinking: that resilience is built not only through technology and policy, but through everyday preparedness in familiar spaces like classrooms.
Another lasting lesson from the tsunami is the central role of people themselves in recovery and resilience. Communities that were involved in planning, trained in basic preparedness, and supported over time recovered more sustainably. Where local knowledge was respected and livelihoods were rebuilt alongside infrastructure, recovery was not only faster but more meaningful. This human-centred approach remains just as relevant today.
As time passes, there is a risk that disasters fade into statistics and anniversaries become routine. Remembering the tsunami is not only about honouring those who lost their lives. It is about ensuring that the lessons learned continue to shape how societies prepare for the future. Children growing up in coastal areas today may not remember the events of 2004, but the systems, education, and safeguards put in place now will determine how safe they are when the next crisis occurs.
December 26 calls for quiet reflection, but also renewed commitment. Commitment to stronger early warning systems, better coastal planning, safer schools, and community-led preparedness that places people at the centre of risk reduction. Nature cannot be controlled, but its impact can be reduced when knowledge, planning, and empathy come together.
Remembering the tsunami is not just about looking back. It is about carrying forward the responsibility to protect lives, livelihoods, and futures, especially for those living closest to the sea.
The article can be attributed to Yezdani Rahman, Incident Commander at the Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS)
