Megathrust underwater earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the Indian Ocean
The deadliest tsunami in recorded history, killing nearly 228,000 people across 14 countries and triggering the largest international humanitarian response of its era.
Key Facts
- Magnitude
- Mw 9.2–9.3
- Estimated death toll
- 227,898 people
- Countries affected
- 14
- Maximum wave height
- 30 metres
- Fault rupture length
- 1,200–1,300 km
- International donations
- Over US$14 billion
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A rupture along the fault boundary between the Burma plate and the Indian plate off the west coast of Aceh, northern Sumatra, produced the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Asia. The megathrust event, reaching Mw 9.2–9.3, featured the longest fault rupture ever observed and lasted at least ten minutes, displacing enormous volumes of seawater.
On 26 December 2004, the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake struck at 07:58 local time, generating a massive tsunami with waves up to 30 metres high. The tsunami radiated across the Indian Ocean, devastating coastlines in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, among others. The earthquake also caused the entire planet to vibrate by up to 10 mm and remotely triggered tremors as far away as Alaska.
Approximately 227,898 people died across 14 countries, making this the deadliest tsunami and deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century. Coastal communities suffered severe disruption to living conditions and commerce. The scale of destruction prompted a worldwide humanitarian response, with international donations exceeding US$14 billion, and accelerated the development of improved Indian Ocean tsunami early-warning systems.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 227,898 (earthquake)