President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih tears up while recounting his own personal experience during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, one of the most devastating natural disasters to hit the country.
President Solih along with First Lady Fazna Ahmed traveled to M Kolhufushi earlier today to take part in the National Unity Day celebrations. The day is observed in remembrance of the spirit of national unity and solidarity shown by the people in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004.
Addressing the crowd, President Solih said he too had witnessed the devastating Tsunami wave. President Solih said that when the massive wave struck the country 18 years back, he had been at his birth island of Lhaviyani Naifaru with his family.
The President said that it would be difficult for anyone but those present during the disaster to describe how it felt to watch the water gush into the island, into the homes, and wash away everything.
He said that he was on the island with his wife, two children, and the whole family. The President recounted how his eldest daughter, 9 years then was stuck on a tree in front of his house and how his 7-year-old son was standing on a wall nearby.
The President appeared to take a moment to gather himself before continuing and his wife first lady Fazna was seen silently crying in the crowd along with other audience members who might still remember that fateful day as if it was yesterday.
President Solih went on to say that the island of Kolhufushi would have experienced a more frightening, sad, and devastating day compared to his own experience as the island was one of the hardest hit in the country.
The island of Kolhufushi lost 17 lives during the tragedy with the national death toll at 82 dead and 24 reported missing and presumed dead.
