Countries Around The World Mark The 10-Year Anniversary of Tsunami Disaster

A number of services are being held throughout Asia today commemorating the 10^th anniversary of the tsunami which claimed almost a quarter of a million lives. Four Irish people, Lucy Coyle, Éilís Finnegan, Connor Keightley and Michael Murphy, are being remembered today as they also lost their lives in what was one of the world’s greatest natural disasters. The disaster, which took place on St Stephen’s Day 2004, saw a massive tidal wave engulf a number of countries on the Indian Ocean. The tsunami was caused by an earthquake under the sea bed which registered 9.1 in magnitude. One third of the victims of the tsunami were children. In Indonesia, where the tsunami hit first and more than 160,000 lives were lost after a wave as high as 33 feet surged inland, services are being held in memory of the victims. The tsunami struck a dozen countries around the Indian Ocean, and people are holding moments of silence to mark the time the tsunami struck. Pics via AFP and Getty.