Eleven years ago, the small fishing village of Baan Nam Khem lost more than half its population when the devastating Boxing Day tsunami struck Thailand’s coast. When the water finally ebbed, only 49 buildings were still standing.

Today, relatives of the victims gathered at Tsunami Memorial Park, bringing flowers and prayers for their loved ones.

The 2004 disaster was triggered by a massive earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean. Within hours, a series of waves reached the coastlines of 11 countries, killing close to 230,000 people across Asia and Africa.

Indonesia was hardest hit, with an estimated 160,000 deaths. Another half-million people were displaced.

In Thailand, more than 8,000 people were reported dead or missing.

An Indian Ocean tsunami warning system was established in 2006 and worked successfully when earthquakes hit the area once again in 2012.