IN PHOTOS: Aceh, 10 years after the tsunami

JAKARTA, Indonesia – It’s been 10 years, and a lot has changed in Aceh. The December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was a disaster beyond comprehension, and in its immediate aftermath, the task of rebuilding seemed an impossible feat.

Tens of thousands of houses were destroyed. Roads and bridges were rendered impassable. There was hardly any infrastructure left.

What were once homes, stores, schools and offices, filled with chairs and tables and all sorts of other furniture, were all turned to debris that would take a year to clean up. It took even longer to rebuild everything that was destroyed.

But Aceh, with aid from different parts of the world, did rebuild.    

On December 27, 2004, a day after the tsunami struck, the grounds of Banda Aceh’s Baiturrahaman mosque were littered with debris. On November 27, 2014, the renovated grounds of the mosque show no sign of the disaster. Photo by Bay Ismoyo/AFP

The tsunami left an estimated 10 million cubic meters of debris, as seen around Baiturrahaman mosque on December 28, 2004. On November 27, 2014, the renovated grounds of the mosque are clean and green. Photo by Bay Ismoyo/AFP

On January 2, 2005, this damaged mosque was photographed in Teunom, Aceh Jaya district, with many surrounding houses wiped out in the aftermath of the massive tsunami. The same location was photographed on November 29, 2014 showing the renovated mosque surrounded by new houses and a rebuilt community. Photos by Choo Youn-Kong (2005) and Chaideer Mahyuddin (2014)/AFP

On January 8, 2005, these two fishing boats were seen beside a commercial building in Banda Aceh. The same location was photographed on November 27, 2014. Photos by Kazuhiro Nogi (2005) and Bay Ismoyo (2014)/AFP 

On January 9, 2005, the main coastal road in Aceh Besar district was covered with debris and impassable. On November 29, 2014, the new highway is seen used by motorists. Photos by Choo Youn-Kong (2005) and Bay Ismoyo (2014)/AFP 

– Rappler.com