Provinces in Southern Thailand held memorial services in various locations along the western coast that was hit by giant waves that killed more than 5,300 people in the country 11 years before.

Anniversary events were held at Kamala Memorial Stone, Mai Khao Memorial Wall, Phuket City Hall and Patong Beach in the southern resort island of Phuket.

Interfaith ceremonies were also held in resort towns across the Andaman coast, from Phang Nga Province to Phi Phi archipelago.

Many relatives from abroad who lost their loved ones in the Dec 26, 2004, tsunami travelled to Thailand to join the service.

The tsunami struck during peak tourist season at the beaches and islands in Thailand, killing thousands of holidaymakers as well as workers and villagers.

Thailand was one the countries hit by the tidal waves from a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island.

The disaster claimed an estimated 230,000 lives, mostly in Indonesia.

It was the deadliest tsunami in recorded history.

In Indonesia , Aceh residents held memorial services today on the 11th anniversary of the tsunami that killed at least 165,000 people in Indonesia's westernmost province.

Governor Zaini Abdullah and regional officials visited a mass grave of tsunami victims, and then attended a memorial religious service at a mosque.

Fishermen marked the tragedy by abstaining taking their boats yesterday and today.

"Fishermen were advised not to go fishing for two days in remembrance of the tsunami and because it was Friday," Miftah Cut Adek, a community leader was quoted by news website Detik.com .

The powerful undersea earthquake that struck about 160km off the western coast of Sumatra island generated giant waves that devastated coastal areas in Aceh. Victims included 37,000 injured and about half a million displaced people.

The tidal waves also caused death and destruction in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and elsewhere in the Indian Ocean, including coastal Africa.

- dpa