On December 26th, 2004 a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean sets off a tsunami that, within minutes, arrives in the bustling city of Aceh, causing unprecedented havoc and devastation. This four-part documentary follows the desperate struggle to survive of city-dwellers in Indonesia and tourists in Thailand caught in the unfolding catastrophe, as well as the scientists working against the clock to warn the world. Discover the power of the human spirit through stories of hope, hardship, and he

On December 26, 2004, a massive undersea earthquake near Sumatra triggered one of the deadliest tsunamis in history. Waves up to 30 meters high devastated Indonesia’s Aceh province, killing over 167,000 people and displacing half a million. Entire towns were wiped out, with Lhoknga nearly erased. The tragedy led to global aid efforts and new tsunami warning systems, but its destruction remains unforgettable. | History In Pictures

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the December 26, 2004 magnitude 9.1 Sumatra earthquake and tsunami, the third largest instrumentally recorded earthquake. | EarthScope Consortium

On 26 December 2004, a huge earthquake off Indonesia's coast triggered a tsunami. It swept away entire communities around the Indian Ocean. Choodamani and Karibeeran's three children were killed. So they decided to turn their home in Tamil Nadu, India, into an orphanage. | BBC World Service