The boy once known as “Baby 81,” who was pulled from the mud as an infant after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and reunited with his parents following an emotional court battle, is now a 20-year-old dreaming of higher education.

Khao Lak, Thailand, Dec 25 (EFE).- Two decades after the devastating 2004 tsunami, thousands of tourists returned to Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast to celebrate Christmas on Wednesday. The celebrations took place under the bright sun and tranquil waters of the ocean, mirroring the calm before disaster struck 20 years ago.

Banlue Choosin has been monitoring the seas around Thailand's southern Phang Nga province for signs of abnormality for nearly two decades. The 59-year-old is a former fisherman, and his experience and knowledge of the sea are why his coastal community in Ban Nam Khem village relies on him to monitor nearby waters after earthquakes.

On Dec. 26, 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, causing a massive wave that devastated Asian coastal communities across thousands of miles.

Survivors and victims' relatives will next week mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 220,000 people across more than a dozen countries.

Jayarasa Abilash, once known internationally as "Baby 81," has transformed from a symbol of tragedy to a young man with aspirations of higher education. As an infant, Abilash was dramatically pulled from the debris left by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Sri Lanka.