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Sumatra, Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami, 26 December 2004


On 26 December 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake (3.316 N, 95.854 E, depth 30 km) occurred off the coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The tsunami generated by the earthquake was recorded nearly world-wide and killed more people than any other tsunami in recorded history, almost 230,000 missing and presumed dead. The estimated material losses are $10 billion and insured losses are $2 billion. This is the third largest earthquake in the world since 1900 and is the largest since the 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska earthquake. The earthquake caused severe damage and casualties in northern Sumatra, Indonesia and in the Nicobar Islands, India... more

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Tsunami wave height as measured by satellites two hours and five minutes after the event.


Additional information:

NOAA Center for Tsunami Research: 2004 Event

2004 Event Page: Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics

Surviving a Tsunami: Lessons from Aceh and Southern Java, Indoniesia

Tectonics of Sumatra-Andaman Islands (USGS)