Indonesian girl found a decade after Boxing Day tsunami

By MiNDFOOD

Indonesian girl found a decade after Boxing Day tsunami
A girl swept away from her family, believed to be dead, is reunited with her family after 10 years.

An Indonesian girl who was swept away from her family in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami has been reunited with her parents, 10 years after the Boxing Day tragedy.

Raudhatul Jannh was only four years old when her and her brother were swept away by the powerful tsunami waters from her home in West Aceh district in Aceh province.

Raudhatul’s mother, Jamaliah said that after the tsunami hit her house, Raudhatul and her brother, then seven, slipped from her and her husband’s grasp as they held onto a floating plank of wood.

After a month-long search, Raudhatul’s mother and father gave up hope, believing their children had perished.

It wasn’t until June this year, when Jamaliah’s brother had spotted a girl who looked just like Raudhatul, that the family were given renewed hope.

Raudhatul was found to be living under the care of an elderly woman in nearby Aceh Barat Daya district.

The family were all reunited on Wednesday to the delight of Jamaliah.

“My husband and I are very happy we have found her. This is a miracle from God.”

Jamaliah said as soon as she saw the girl, she had no doubt it was her daughter Raudhatul, even willing to provide DNA as proof.

Raudhatul is now 14 and she believes her brother is also likely to be alive, after they were stranded on Banyak island.

The family will continue to search for him and hopefully some more remarkable news will soon follow.

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