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Thailand buries last tsunami dead | Thailand buries last tsunami dead |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The last 125 unidentified victims of the tsunami that struck Thailand two years ago have been buried. | |
Around 5,400 people died in Thailand, half of them foreign tourists. Another 3,000 are still reported missing. | Around 5,400 people died in Thailand, half of them foreign tourists. Another 3,000 are still reported missing. |
The efforts to identify the remains of victims, often badly decomposed, has been described as the largest forensic operation in history. | The efforts to identify the remains of victims, often badly decomposed, has been described as the largest forensic operation in history. |
The final bodies are those that the authorities were unable to identify through DNA testing or dental records. | The final bodies are those that the authorities were unable to identify through DNA testing or dental records. |
Simple ceremony | |
The very simple ceremony began with prayers by members of the Buddhist, Christian and Muslim communities as it is not known which religion those being buried followed. | |
Most are thought to be Asian, many perhaps illegal workers from Burma whose families would have been unable to come to Thailand to find them. | Most are thought to be Asian, many perhaps illegal workers from Burma whose families would have been unable to come to Thailand to find them. |
A special cemetery for tsunami victims is being constructed across the road from the forensic centre in Khao Lak. | |
The corpses have been implanted with microchips and enclosed in aluminium coffins so they can be disinterred later if needed. | |
In many ways this ceremony draws a line under the traumatic experience of the tsunami, even here in Khao Lak, the hardest-hit region. | In many ways this ceremony draws a line under the traumatic experience of the tsunami, even here in Khao Lak, the hardest-hit region. |
Bouncing back | Bouncing back |
It has taken much longer for the tourist industry here to bounce back than in the larger resort island of Phuket down the coast. | It has taken much longer for the tourist industry here to bounce back than in the larger resort island of Phuket down the coast. |
But hotels are now reporting sharp increases in visitors. | But hotels are now reporting sharp increases in visitors. |
A few are back to pre-tsunami occupancy levels. | A few are back to pre-tsunami occupancy levels. |
There are few visible signs of the damage wreaked by the massive waves. | There are few visible signs of the damage wreaked by the massive waves. |
A remarkable rebuilding effort, aided by thousands of foreign volunteers, has replaced most of the destroyed homes and fishing boats. | A remarkable rebuilding effort, aided by thousands of foreign volunteers, has replaced most of the destroyed homes and fishing boats. |
Some complain that there has been too much rebuilding. | Some complain that there has been too much rebuilding. |
There are now believed to be twice as many fishing boats as before. | There are now believed to be twice as many fishing boats as before. |
But many of those who lost family members are still likely to continue to need some psychiatric counselling. | But many of those who lost family members are still likely to continue to need some psychiatric counselling. |
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