SIMEULUE, INDONESIA - NOVEMBER 15: A group of fishermen and villagers inspect the catch after hauling nets along the coast of Lasikin village on November 15, 2024 in Simeulue, Aceh, Indonesia. December 26, 2024 marks 20 years since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Simeulue Island is situated 40 km south of the epicenter of the December 26, 2004, 9.1-magnitude earthquake, which triggered the Indian Ocean tsunami that resulted in over 200,000 deaths across 14 countries. However, in Simeulue, only 7 people died. This is largely due to a story passed down since the last major tsunami in 1907. In the local language, a tsunami is called "smong." The story, passed down through song (nandong), teaches the people of Simeulue that if there is a massive earthquake followed by the water receding, they must move to higher ground. Nandong is a spoken tradition that shares lessons, tales, and humor, highlighting the distinctive culture of the Simeulue community. Today, local wisdom continues to be passed down through nandong. In Simeulue, children are taught these stories, and there are competitions for the best nandong performance. This tradition is unique to the island, and even most Indonesians are unaware of it. Aceh was the hardest-hit area, as it was the largest city closest to the epicentre of the 9.1-magnitude earthquake. It suffered immense destruction from the subsequent tsunami, resulting in around 130,000 deaths. Across the 14 affected countries, nearly 230,000 people lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. (Photo by Roni Bintang/Getty Images) on November 15, 2024 in UNSPECIFIED, Indonesia. (Photo by Roni Bintang/Getty Images)