On Dec 26, 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia's Sumatra generating a mammoth tsunami killing thousands and wreaking havoc across 14 countries throughout the Indian Ocean region. In 20 minutes it lasted, as per the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC), it left a tale of devastation in what was said to be the third largest earthquake since 1900. Also known as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, or the Boxing Day tsunami, the disaster killed over two lakh people.
"Globally, this earthquake was large enough to basically vibrate the whole planet as much as half an inch, or a centimetre. Everywhere we had instruments, we could see motions," Charles Ammon, Associate Professor of Geosciences at Penn State University, said at that time, reported NDTV citing a CNN report.
On the 19th anniversary of the tragedy on Tuesday, people took to social media to pay tributes to those who lost their lives in the earth-trembling and one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
President of Indonesia, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, observed National Unity Day with top government staff. "President @MMuizzu, along with other top government officials and staff, observe a minute of silence this morning to mark the unity displayed by Maldivians during the 2004 tsunami. National Unity Day is observed on December 26 of each year," the post read.
Former Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid took to X to remember the dead and said: "#Maldives was one of the worst hit countries in the Indian Ocean Tsunami on 26 December 2004, as the massive waves swept across our islands taking away lives & livelihoods in its wake. Overwhelmed in grief, our people stood together, shoulder to shoulder as we faced the aftermath and revived hope with resilience. Alhamdhu liLaahi . Greetings on National Solidarity Day."
In Tamil Nadu, fishermen and locals in the Cuddalore district came together to pay tributes to those who lost their lives in the catastrophe.
Rasamanickam R.Shanakiyan, Member of parliament (ITAK), Sri Lanka & Chairman of S M Rasamanickam Peoples Foundation, shared the photos of people paying tributes in Navalady, Batticaloa on Tuesday.
Many posted the drastic visuals of the 2004 tsunami paying their obseibece to those who lost their lives.
"Today it will be 19 years since that disaster, who knows how many families it left orphaned and homeless. My humble tribute to all those who are in this devastation," a user said.
Another said: "19 years ago, on this day, it took 15 mins to 7 hrs for a tsunami with the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs, triggered by 9.0 mag. earthquake to wreak havoc in 14 countries killing over 2,30,000 people. Remembering the dead, lest we forget! #RingOfFire #Tsunami2004."
The Democratic Party of Indonesia shared photos of its leader Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) along with former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and others paid tributes to the dead.
"The feeling of sadness deepened, continued AHY, when he witnessed the earthquake and tsunami disaster that caused 250 thousand Acehnese to become victims, and made 500 thousand living residents homeless. “After finishing work, the Tsunami disaster occurred. I again feel the suffering of the people of Aceh," a post on X read.
"26 December always reminds me the year 2004. The biggest ever disaster which we witnessed during our lifetime," mentioned another user on X.
Countries Affected By 2004 Tsunami
The tsunami killed more people than any other tsunami in recorded history, with 227,898 dead or missing. According to, ITIC, the worst-hit country was Indonesia with 167,540 listed as dead or missing and damages of $4,451.6 million. Other include Sri Lanka (35,322), India (16,269), Thailand (8,212), Somalia (289), Maldives (108), Malaysia (75), Myanmar (61), Tanzania (13), Bangladesh (2), Seychelles (2), South Africa (2), Yemen (2), and Kenya (1). The total estimated material losses in the Indian Ocean region were $10 billion and insured losses were $2 billion.