Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park

About this place

On the morning of 26 December 2004 a massive tsunami struck the Khao Lak coast, the hardest-hit area in Thailand, where thousands of residents and visitors lost their lives. The fishing village of Ban Nam Khem was the worst hit of all, losing a large share of its people in minutes and most of its homes and boats. The memorial park was built on the shore where the waves came in. Its centrepiece is a curved wall shaped like a wave, facing a tiled wall whose panels carry the names and photographs of the victims, with a path between them where visitors walk between the wave and the remembrance. The park is quiet and looks out to sea, and families gather here every year on the anniversary. Visiting is free and always possible. Nearby in the village are a small tsunami museum and a large fishing boat that the waves carried into the middle of the houses and left there as a witness. Respect and quiet are essential. May to October is the Andaman rainy season, when the sea is rough and some beaches and islands close. The village today is a living fishing community that has rebuilt; many residents are Muslim, with mosques and halal seafood restaurants. Combine the visit with the Police Boat 813 memorial on your way.