10 years after the earthquake and tsunami disaster: Rebirth on the desolate land.

• December 26, 2014 14:20

In the areas devastated by the tsunami 10 years ago, life is gradually reviving, although many difficulties remain.

On December 26th, survivors of the 2004 tsunami and relatives of the victims gathered at locations along the Indian Ocean coast to pray and hold memorial services marking the 10th anniversary of the devastating tsunami that claimed the lives of 226,000 people and left an indelible mark on the areas it struck.

Exactly 10 years ago, on December 26, 2004, a powerful 9.1 magnitude earthquake ripped through the seabed of the Indian Ocean, generating a tsunami up to 17.4 meters high that struck more than 10 countries and wiped out coastal communities in just seconds.

Even now, 10 years later, in some areas affected by the tsunami, survivors have not fully recovered to their normal lives. Residents complain that the rebuilt infrastructure is of poor quality and uneven.

In Aceh province (Indonesia), where 168,000 people died in the tsunami, a large prayer service was held on the night of December 25th at the Aceh Mosque – one of the few buildings that remained standing when the tsunami swept through. Local Muslims said this was because "This is the house of Allah."

In Thailand – where 5,395 people died, including around 2,000 foreign tourists – the commemoration was held in Ban Nam Khem, a southern fishing village devastated by the tsunami. Nearly 3,000 people remain missing to date.

In Sri Lanka, a memorial ceremony was held featuring an image of a train swept away by the tsunami, which killed 1,270 people. This train will use the same engine as the original train to tow five carriages from the wrecked train.

Additionally, tsunami preparedness drills will be held to test the readiness of fishermen in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where the 2004 tsunami killed 6,000 people.

Over the past decade, more than $400 million has been invested by 28 coastal countries to build tsunami early warning systems, including 101 sea level sensors and 148 seismometers. However, concerns remain about the effectiveness of this investment. According to experts, millions of people living in coastal areas remain highly vulnerable.

Images of revival on "dead zones" in Thailand and Indonesia: