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Tsunami of 2004, Indian Ocean

  • By: Alastair Dawson
  • In: Encyclopedia of Geography
  • Edited by: Barney Warf
  • Subject:General Geography, Earth & Environmental Science

A major tsunami took place on December 26, 2004, which was the deadliest tsunami in recent history. On that fateful day, the tsunami left more than 225,000 people dead or missing, with many millions made homeless in a total of 11 countries. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand were the hardest hit.

Figure 1 A regional map of those countries most affected by the tsunami. This map also illustrates the approximate land coverage under 20 m in elevation as a zone of potential tsunami damage.
Source: Courtesy of UNOSAT, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme, implemented in cooperation with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Map based on data provided by International Charter Space and Major Disasters.

The tsunami ...

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