Remember the 2004 tsunami that devastated 14 countries and caused 2,27,000 deaths?

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake, killed 230,000 people across 14 countries. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives suffered the worst—with coastal communities erased, economies collapsed, and $13 billion in losses. A haunting lesson in nature’s fury.

New Delhi: The threat of tsunami in Russia and Japan after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake is once again reminding the world of the terrible tragedy of 2004, which devastated the coastal countries of the Indian Ocean.

On December 26, 2004, an earthquake of 9.1-9.3 magnitude near the Indonesian island of Sumatra caused a stir in the seabed, causing waves up to 30 meters high. This tsunami was so terrible that it engulfed 14 countries and killed about 2.30 lakh people. It is known as the "Boxing Day Tsunami" because it came on Boxing Day (December 26) in Christian countries.

Horrific scene of destruction

This tsunami completely ruined the coastal areas. Indonesia was the worst affected, where more than 1.70 lakh people died in Aceh province. In Sri Lanka, 35,000 people died, including 2,000 passengers on a train ("Queen of the Sea") that was swept away by the waves.

The economy of the Maldives collapsed, with losses amounting to 62% of the country's GDP. In India, Tamil Nadu and the Andaman-Nicobar Islands were the worst affected, with more than 10,700 dead and 5,640 missing.

Economic and social devastation

The disaster caused economic losses of about $13 billion. The fishing industry collapsed, agriculture was ruined due to saltwater inundation of fields, and the tourism industry suffered a major setback. Millions of people were left homeless, and environmental resources such as coral reefs and mangroves were severely damaged.

Effects on India

In India, coastal cities such as Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Chennai suffered heavy devastation. Many islands of Andaman and Nicobar were submerged, but the tribes there (like the Onge) survived due to traditional knowledge as they moved to higher places.