Warta C-Adventure 2405

Rahmatullah Mosque: Witness to the Power of the Tsunami in Lampuuk

Miraculously, during the tsunami, the Rahmatullah Mosque, only about 500 meters from the shoreline, remained standing firm.

After passing through the 'Kampung Turki' Lampuuk gate, one arrives at a grand mosque with a black dome. It was first inaugurated on September 12, 1997, by the then-Governor of Aceh, Prof. Syamsudin Mahmud. Named Rahmatullah, this mosque, with its impressive architecture, bears witness to the devastating tsunami that struck Aceh in 2004. Rahmatullah Mosque was the sole surviving structure in a village in Lhoknga Subdistrict, Aceh Besar Regency.

Prior to the tsunami, the village was home to around 6,000 people, mostly from the upper-middle class, including employees of PT. Semen Andalas Indonesia, as well as fishermen, farmers, and various other professionals.

When the tsunami hit, all buildings were destroyed and swept hundreds of meters inland. Only about 700 residents survived, while thousands perished.

Amidst the destruction, the Rahmatullah Mosque, located just 500 meters from the beach, stood miraculously firm. Though parts of the mosque were damaged, most of it remained intact.

This attracted the attention of both local and international journalists and photographers, who documented the scene. Several photographs, especially aerial ones, showed the entire village around the mosque completely flattened.

With the arrival of international aid, the devastated condition of Aceh began to be restored, including the area around Lampuuk beach. The Rahmatullah Mosque was renovated and expanded. A pair of twin towers were added, enhancing its new appearance.

Even though the new Rahmatullah Mosque became more magnificent, parts of the back of the mosque were preserved in their original, tsunami-damaged state. This serves as a reminder and a warning to the community about the dangers of future tsunamis.

Observing the view of 'Kampung Turki' amidst the natural landscape of Lampuuk from the top of the mosque’s tower evokes memories of the tsunami tragedy when thousands of lives were lost.

Source: https://indonesiakaya.com/pustaka-indonesia/masjid-rahmatullah-saksi-kedahsyatan-tsunami-di-lampuuk/

Editor: fatoni_belajar_warta is the caregiver of El-Mubien Islamic Boarding School in Leuwibatu, Rumpin, Bogor

Donations and alms for the construction and expansion of El-Mubien Islamic Boarding School can be made through Bank Central Asia (BCA) Account No. 7090336376 in the name of Fatoni.