Girl swept away by tsunami reunited with family 10 years on

The 14-year-old girl was separated from her family during the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami.

Jannah with her mother. Photo: Achwa Nussa/AAP

"God has given us a miracle."

So said the mother of an Indonesian girl who disappeared during the 2004 tsunami and who has now been found - ten years later.

Raudhatul Jannah was just four years old when she and her seven-year-old brother were swept away by the huge waves that struck their home in the West Aceh district on St. Stephen's Day, 2004.

While her parents survived the tsunami, they gave up hope of finding either of their children alive years ago.

Back in June, Jannah's uncle spotted a girl in a village walking home from school who bore a striking resemblance to his niece.

After making inquiries, he found out the girl had been caught up in the tsunami - which killed more than 170,000 people in Aceh alone - and had been carried to some remote islands south-west of the province. She was rescued by a fisherman who took her back to the mainland where his mother raised her and where she has lived ever since.

After the tip-off, the girl's mother, Jamalliah and her husband visited the girl in late June and discovered that it was indeed their missing daughter.

Jannah with her mother and grandmother. Photo: Achwa Nussa/AAP

"My husband and I are very happy," Jamalliah told AFP.

"I am so grateful to God for reuniting us with our child after 10 years of being separated."

"My heart beat so fast when I saw her. I hugged her and she hugged me back and felt so comfortable in my arms," she said.

Jannah returned to her hometown with her parents last Wednesday. It is thought that Jannah's brother also survived but his whereabouts are unknown.