2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
Boxing Day Tsunami
Catastrophic — mass casualties or destruction
Weather Event
Concluded
Weather Event
Concluded
Severity
9.7/10
Weather Event Details
Location
Indian Ocean — 14 countries
Magnitude
9.1 Mw earthquake
Casualties
227,898 dead
Start Date
December 26, 2004
Damage Cost
$15 billion
Summary
On December 26, 2004, a 9.1 magnitude undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra triggered a massive tsunami that struck 14 countries. It killed approximately 227,898 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. The disaster prompted the largest humanitarian aid response ever seen.
Timeline
Dec 26, 2004 7:58am
9.1 magnitude earthquake strikes off Sumatra coast.
Dec 26, 2004
Tsunami waves up to 30m hit 14 countries.
Dec 2004–Jan 2005
227,898 confirmed dead. Millions displaced.
Evidence & Sources
Created
4/6/2026
Last Update
7/15/2026