Hundreds turn out for tsunami memorial service

PATONG: More than 700 mourners joined local dignitaries for the tsunami memorial ceremony held at Loma Park this morning, two years after the tsunami struck the beach there.

The ceremony, led by 99 monks from nearby Laem Petch Temple, was mostly conducted in silence, with only the sounds of the monks praying and the waves on the beach to be heard.

Many of the onlookers brought food and gifts for the monks as an exercise in merit-making.

Phuket Governor Niran Kanlayanamit was joined by other provincial officers, including Suwalai Pinpradab, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Southern Region 4 office; Patong Mayor Pian Keesin; and Aroon Kerdsom, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention Mitigation.

Memorial services will continue this evening on Patong Beach, as well as at Kamala Beach and Khao Lak.