🌊 The Deadliest Tsunami in Recorded History On December 26, 2004, the world witnessed the most deadly tsunami ever documented. A massive 9.1–9.3 magnitude undersea earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It was so powerful it shifted the Earth’s axis and created a series of tsunami waves that spread across the Indian Ocean at the speed of a jet plane. Within hours, coastlines in 14 countries were hit — including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and the Maldives. The Impact

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami ranks among the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. On December 26, 2004, a massive undersea earthquake measuring 9.1–9.3 struck off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake suddenly displaced the seafloor, sending colossal volumes of water surging across the Indian Ocean at speeds comparable to a jetliner. Within minutes to hours, these waves slammed into coastal communities in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and several other countries,