Bodies piled up as the death toll from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami climbed to almost 250,000 - 20 years later survivors and first responders are sharing memories of the deadliest natural disaster this century.
Just before 8am on December 26, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake beneath the third of the world's great oceanic divisions shook its crust for a full eight minutes.
The monster temblor unleashed a landfall-destined 30-metre wave that crashed into villages along coastal areas throughout Asia.
The disaster claimed more than 227,000 lives and rendered millions homeless, displacing people across 15 nations including Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.
For first responders, media and the families of 26 Australians who lost their lives in the Boxing Day tsunami, the day is a painful reminder of unprecedented tragedy.
Tsunami survivor, former Aceh resident Dina Syifa remembers her entire family getting out of their car and sitting on the road as the dirt shook beneath them.
“I mean, the earthquake was so big, I thought that was the end of the world,” she told the ABC.
“I saw the coconut tree bending, it almost touched the ground. I saw the road start cracking next to me … and then the water came so fast.”
Indonesia’s Banda Aceh was the epicentre of the quake and subsequent tsunami, with almost 170,00 people killed in the region.
Australian Federal Police sent specialist teams of forensic scientists, pathologists, odontologists and family support and communications staff to Thailand as part of international support efforts.
Their role at the time was to wade through hundreds of thousands of bodies to identify loved ones and notify families.
Many of those first responders are returning to attend commemorative ceremonies in Khao Lak, Thailand this week.
Retired Superintendent Mick Travers, commander of one of the victim identification sites in Phuket, said the extent of the loss was staggering.
"We cannot fathom how hard the past 20 years have been for families and friends impacted by the deaths of their loved ones; however, we take solace in our role with providing closure to those affected by this horrible tragedy,” he said.
“The AFP played a key command role in helping the Royal Thai Police identify victims, both Thai nationals and foreign visitors.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the disaster response showed the tenacity of the human spirit.
"Even amid that nightmare, people followed the powerful instinct to help each other, to look out for each other and to comfort each other," he said in an address on Christmas Day.
"It was in that spirit that we came together as people and as nations to help our cherished friends and neighbours across the region to get back on their feet.
"That spirit is humanity's greatest strength."
Boxing Day 2024 would be a moment to remember those who lost their lives and those whose lives changed forever, he said.
"For 20 years, survivors have lived with the weight of loss and the pain of memories that one terrible day looming so large over all the others ... for all of these people, we hold them in our hearts."
Thousands of foreigners holidaying in coastal resorts also died with the disaster claiming, 543 Swedes, 539 Germans and 143 Brits among them.
An estimated $10 billion in damage was inflicted across the region in less than 24 hours, prompting the Australian government to make a commitment of $1 billion over 10 years.
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