December 26, 2004 M9.1 Earthquake & Indian Ocean Tsunami In the early morning hours of December 26, 2004, the Earth unleashed one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. A massive M9.1 megathrust rupture off the coast of Sumatra violently displaced the seafloor, sending walls of water racing across the Indian Ocean. Within minutes, coastlines were swallowed. Entire communities vanished. Waves traveled thousands of kilometers, striking country after country with almost no warning. By the

After a massive earthquake triggered the deadliest tsunami in recorded history, multiple waves hit the coast of Sri Lanka. Both tourists and locals scramble for safety, as the extent of the wave and its destruction become apparent. Discover the power of the human spirit through stories of hope, hardship, and heroism from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Parts one and two of Tsunami: Race Against Time premiere tonight at 9pm on National Geographic UK. | National Geographic UK

🌊 2004 Tsunami: 230,000 Dead in One Day On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1–9.3 earthquake off Sumatra ripped open the seafloor and launched a tsunami that killed around 230,000 people across 14 countries. Many of those people never felt the earthquake. They were on beaches, in trains, in fishing villages and resorts. Hours later, the ocean rose up and erased their world. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzania and more — all hit by waves born f

After a massive earthquake triggered the deadliest tsunami in recorded history, multiple waves hit Thailand. As the waves reach the beaches of popular resorts, locals and tourists work together to save lives. Survivors separated by the waves desperately search for their loved ones. Discover the power of the human spirit through stories of hope, hardship, and heroism from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Tsunami: Race Against Time premieres Monday November 25th at 9pm on National Geographic UK. | N

Precisely 20 years ago, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami struck Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, claiming the lives of 225,000 people. Young Martunis Sarbini managed to defy the odds and survive alone for 21 days. He was eventually found by cameraman Phil Hooper and his team—making Martunis the last survivor to be rescued. #TsunamiRaceAgainstTime is now streaming on Disney and Hulu. | National Geographic TV