Aceh Jaya - Definition and Overview

Aceh Jaya is a district of the special territory of Aceh on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

On December 26 2004, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history, the Indian Ocean earthquake, struck off the western coast of Sumatra. The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis reportedly killed over 220,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean. Aceh Jaya is among the hardest-hit areas. Its capital, Calang, was utterly destroyed by the tsunamis, killing approximately 70% of the people. The Indonesian Government has announced that a rebuilt Calang will be sited further inland.