Banda Aceh is the provincial capital and largest city of Aceh, Indonesia, located on the island of Sumatra at , with an elevation of 21 m. The population was approximately 225,000.
The first part of its name comes from the Persian bandar (بندر) and means "port" or "haven".
Banda Aceh was the closest major city to the earthquake's epicentre.
See also: Leupung, Calang, Teunom, Meulaboh and Tapaktuan (towns on the western coast of Aceh that have also been affected.)
