As we mark the 21st anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, UNDP and the Government of Japan share the stories of survivors so that their experiences are never forgotten, and communities continue to prepare for the unexpected. 

Interview conducted by UNDP in January 2025 

“I was living on Koh Kho Khao Island, just across from Ban Nam Khem village in Phang Nga province. Back then, I had never even heard of a tsunami, let alone learned about one. Nobody in our community had. There were no drills: we simply were not prepared. 

That morning, I was at home when I saw the wave. My father shouted for me to run, but I was frozen in shock. The wave was massive, dark and towering. My parents and I climbed a tree, but when the wave hit, I was thrown off. I ended up floating near the tree, helpless, bobbing up and down. Then, just by chance, a buoy floated my way. I grabbed it and held on as the wave carried me out to sea. I was out there alone for what felt like forever: six or seven hours. It was not until evening, around 5 or 6 pm, that a long-tailed boat finally rescued me. 

In the aftermath, Thai and foreign volunteers, along with local authorities and private groups, came together to help us recover. I could not go near the sea for a long time: I was terrified. I still remember the first time a volunteer took us back to the beach. We did not step onto the sand right away. It was a slow process: standing, walking and eventually running on the beach again. It took years for me to feel comfortable being near the water. 

For my family, the experience taught us the importance of being prepared and acting quickly during emergencies. We agreed that if the warning siren sounds, we will evacuate to higher ground immediately and meet at a designated spot. We will not search for each other: we know that delay can cost lives, and we do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. 

As a community, we have learned a lot since then. We decided to always keep important documents packed in a single bag, ready to grab if we ever need to evacuate quickly. It is a small change, but it makes a big difference. Every year, we hold community meetings on preparedness and run evacuation drills. It has become a part of life here because we know we cannot predict when it might happen again. 

The tsunami left a deep mark on me and inspired me to help others. When I heard that the Cultural Office of Phang Nga province was hiring at the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Museum, I applied right away. I am so happy to be here, working with the community, sharing what I have learned, and helping others to stay prepared. 

Our community has come a long way. Every village now has a tsunami working group with specific roles: search teams, first aid teams and others. These measures make us hopeful that if a disaster strikes again, we will be able to minimize the loss of life. One challenge we now face is with the younger generations. They did not live through the tsunami, so they do not really understand how serious it can be or why preparedness matters so much. That is why continuing these efforts is so important: to make sure they are ready too. 

The Museum plays a big part in this as well. Visitors learn how to respond in the event of a disaster, and it is especially valuable for the younger generations. They may not fully grasp the severity of such events, but through education, we are making sure they are better prepared for the future.”

Read more testimonies and learn more about lessons from the Indian Ocean Tsunami here.