Thailand remembers tsunami victims on disaster's third anniversary

Bangkok, Dec 27 (UNI) Remembrance ceremonies were held in Thailand's southern coastal provinces today for thousands of locals and foreign holidaymakers killed by tsunami in the Indian Ocean three years ago this day.

All faith religious ceremonies were held for the more than 5,000 people who died in the December 26 tsunami that hit the country's six southwest coastal provinces including the globally popular sea resort island of Phuket.

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and ambassadors of several countries were scheduled to attend a special memorial this evening in Phang-nga province to be presided over by Thai Princess Ubolratana Rakalanya who lost her son in the tsunami.

Meanwhile, Thai authorities today said they were confident that the elaborate tsunami warning system set up in the southern coastal provinces was working as planned and additional tsunami detection buoys would be installed in the Andaman Sea off Thailand.

UNI