- Address: Thin Ruh Park, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Malé, Maldivi
The monument to the victims of the tsunami in the Maldives is set in the capital on the shores of the Indian Ocean. It reminds local residents and tourists of the 2004 tragedy.
What is interesting about the monument?
The memorial was opened in memory of the victims of the tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004. Then the underwater earthquake caused a tsunami that affected 18 countries and killed more than 225 thousand people. Against the backdrop of general statistics, it seems that the Maldives practically did not suffer, as for this country the tragedy is measured by only 100 victims. But still the government decided to establish a memorial. He demonstrates that every lost life is imprinted on the pages of the history of the country.
The attitude of the population towards the memorial is rather negative than positive. First of all, it is connected with Momun Abdul Gayum. At the time of the opening of the monument, he was President of the Maldives and, in fact, initiated the creation of the memorial. The ruler was a dictator, so the population does not approve of everything he did. In addition, a lot of budget funds were spent on the memorial, and the Maldivians are sure that it was more expedient to spend them on rebuilding houses, roads, resorts and to help the victims. Therefore, local people do not have a tradition to visit the Monument to the victims of the tsunami. But there are always a lot of tourists near it.
Architecture
While creating the memorial, the architects tried to depict the scale of the tragedy as accurately as possible. Thus, an elongated figure was obtained, the basis of which is about a hundred steel rods, which symbolize human lives carried away by water. Around them is a "thread" with strings strung on it, their number is equal to the number of affected atolls, some of which became absolutely unsuitable for life as a result of the tsunami, and the restoration of other islands requires a huge amount of money. Then, without home, there were several thousand Maldivians.
How to get there?
You can get to the Monument to the victims of the tsunami by bus. A block from the memorial is the stop "Villingili Ferry Terminal" ( Willingly Ferry Terminal). The monument will need to pass 70 m, it is on a ledge in the ocean and will be visible as soon as you go to the street Boduthakurufaanu Magu.