World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 2004
Historic Tsunami
2004 Indonesia Tsunami
26 December 2004 · Off West Coast of Sumatra · Indonesia
On 26 December 2004 at 00:58 UTC, a tsunami formed off West Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It was caused by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake. Waves reached up to 50.9 m high. It was observed at 2,175 locations in 20 countries or territories, up to 19,266 km from its source. It killed at least 227,899 people. It is the 2nd deadliest and the 26th highest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 26 December 2004
- Time
- 00:58 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 9.1
- Highest Wave
- 50.9 m
- Observation Sites
- 2,175
- Furthest Reach
- 19,266 km
- Deaths
- 227,899
- Estimated Damage
- 10.0 billion US dollars
- Source Country
- Indonesia
- Triggering Earthquake
- 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 586Indonesia · 50.9 m167,540 deaths
- 408Sri Lanka · 12.5 m35,322 deaths
- 317India · 17.3 m26,047 deaths
- 114Thailand · 19.6 m8,212 deaths
- 29Somalia · 9.5 m572 deaths
- 25Myanmar · 2.9 m150 deaths
- 170Maldives · 4.4 m149 deaths
- 61Malaysia · 4.0 m137 deaths
- 21Tanzania · 3.5 m23 deaths
- 21Yemen · 6.1 m3 deaths
- 11South Africa · 1.5 m3 deaths
- 56Madagascar · 5.4 m2 deaths
Highest Waves
- 50.9 mAceh, Sumatra · Indonesia · 250 km
- 48.9 mRhiting, Aceh, Sumatra · Indonesia · 250 km
- 40.2 mAceh, Sumatra · Indonesia · 242 km
- 35.7 mLhok Nga, Nw. Coast of Sumatra · Indonesia · 253 km
- 35.7 mAceh, Sumatra · Indonesia · 253 km
- 34.9 mWest Coast of Aceh, Sumatra · Indonesia · 253 km
- 34.7 mAceh, Sumatra · Indonesia · 258 km
- 34.5 mSemen Andalas Cement Plant, Sumatra · Indonesia · 252 km
- 34.3 mWest Coast of Aceh, Sumatra · Indonesia · 254 km
- 32.7 mWest Coast of Aceh, Sumatra · Indonesia · 256 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2012Off West Coast of N Sumatra, Indonesia · 1.1 m10 deaths
- 2005Indonesia · 4.2 m1,319 deaths
- 1967Northeast Sumatra, Indonesia14 deaths
- 1907Nw. Sumatra, Indonesia · 15.0 m2,188 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth