Babul Maghfirah mosque: The mosque left standing after the 2004 Tsunami in Aceh

On December 26, 2004, a devastating earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale shook the Indian Ocean off the coast of Aceh, Indonesia. The earthquake caused a tsunami, which swept over a number of beaches around Indian Ocean. More than 230,000 peoples died and millions were left homeless.

One of the cities affected was Kajhu City, on the west coast of Sumatra near the capital city of Aceh, Banda Aceh. The city was flattened, but a miracle occurred. A mosque survived and stood firm in the midst of the destruction. Many locals believe divine intervention saved the Babul Maghfirah mosque.