magnitude 9.1 (2004)

The magnitude 9.1 earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 26, 2004, was one of the most powerful recorded in history. It caused the ocean floor to shift dramatically, generating massive tsunamis that impacted coastal regions across the Indian Ocean. This disaster resulted in over 230,000 fatalities across several countries, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters ever. The earthquake’s immense strength and the subsequent tsunamis highlighted the vulnerability of coastal communities to such geological events, prompting improvements in global tsunami warning systems to better protect populations in the future.