The article commemorates the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Asian tsunami that claimed approximately 230,000 lives across 14 countries, including many Germans. It features personal accounts from survivors like Ben Flegel, who experienced the disaster firsthand in Khao Lak, Thailand, and Simone Jasch-Kobusch, whose family narrowly escaped. The survivors reflect on their trauma, the loss of loved ones, and the lasting impact of the event on their lives and travel behaviors.