Mourners from across the world wept, prayed and observed moments of silence along ravaged Indian Ocean coastlines yesterday to remember those killed by one of nature's deadliest disasters.
A year after the Indian Ocean tsunami, a huge recovery operation has brought hope to hundreds of thousands of survivors.
But the sorrow, pain and trauma remain strong - along with fears that monster waves could come again.
About 230,000 people were killed or disappeared in 13 Indian Ocean countries, nearly three-quarters of them in Indonesia's Aceh province in Sumatra, according to tallies made. Survivors, friends and relatives joined national leaders and foreign dignitaries for memorials in the worst affected countries of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.
A 9.15 magnitude earthquake, which lasted eight minutes, set off waves 10 metres (33 feet) high that smashed into shorelines as far away as east Africa, sweeping holidaymakers off beaches and erasing entire towns and villages.
A year later, four out of five of the two million people displaced are still living in tents, temporary shelters or are with family and friends across the region.
Danny Rowan, an aid worker in Banda Aceh for Concern, said: "No one here remains unaffected by the tragedy. Everyone in this city of 90,000 has lost one or more members of their family."
The Taoiseach Mr Ahern said the earthquake and tsunami had reminded everyone of mankind's vulnerability, but yesterday's first anniversary was a reminder of mankind's resistance. - (Reuters)