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Setting the scene
The Indian Ocean tsunami struck December 26, 2004, after a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off Sumatra, Indonesia—the third-largest ever recorded. The tsunami killed 227,000 people across 14 countries, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand hardest hit. Waves reached 100 feet high.
What happened
The disaster occurred at 7:58 a.m. local time on Boxing Day, when beaches were crowded. There was no tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean. Entire communities were swept away. The international response raised $14 billion in aid.
Why it still matters
The tsunami led to creation of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System and demonstrated the need for disaster preparedness. It was one of history's deadliest natural disasters and showed both nature's power and global humanitarian response.
Background
Over 200,000 died across fourteen countries.