After it entered the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on 28 December 1962 , the name of the city was changed back to Banda Aceh by the Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Autonomy on 9 May 1963 . On 26 December 2004 , the city was hit by a tsunami caused by the 9.2-magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean . The disaster killed 167,000 inhabitants and destroyed more than 60 % of the city 's buildings . Based on the statistical data issued by the City Government of Banda Aceh , Banda Aceh had 248,727 inhabitants in May 2012 . Banda Aceh is divided into nine subdistricts ( ) : Motorised '' becaks '' are common in Banda Aceh . Transport by taxis and minibuses , known as '' labi-labi '' , are also common
was hit
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
Banda Aceh