Tsunamis Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research
Updated 3:03 PM EST, Mon December 12, 2022
The 10th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which killed almost 250,000 people, will be remembered on December 26. Here, people walk through the streets of Tsunami-damaged Phi Phi Village on January 25, 2005, almost one month after the storm hit Ton Sai Bay in Kho Phi Phi, Thailand.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
The 10th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which killed almost 250,000 people, will be remembered on December 26. Here, people walk through the streets of Tsunami-damaged Phi Phi Village on January 25, 2005, almost one month after the storm hit Ton Sai Bay in Kho Phi Phi, Thailand.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Ten years later, people ride bicycles and stroll along a path in Ton Sai Bay.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Ten years later, people ride bicycles and stroll along a path in Ton Sai Bay.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Travelers walk past devastation, carrying their luggage, as they head to the airport on December 27, 2004. Patong Beach was one of the worst hit provinces of Phuket, Thailand.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Travelers walk past devastation, carrying their luggage, as they head to the airport on December 27, 2004. Patong Beach was one of the worst hit provinces of Phuket, Thailand.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
A view of Patong Beach 10 years later shows motorbikes, vans, cars and taxis traveling along a busy Patong road.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A view of Patong Beach 10 years later shows motorbikes, vans, cars and taxis traveling along a busy Patong road.
Taylor Weidman/Getty Images
An aerial shot shows devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami to the west of Aceh on January 8, 2005, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka were the countries most affected by the December 26 earthquake-tsunami.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
An aerial shot shows devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami to the west of Aceh on January 8, 2005, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka were the countries most affected by the December 26 earthquake-tsunami.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
A recent aerial view of coastal Aceh shows the beach restored and trees regrown.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A recent aerial view of coastal Aceh shows the beach restored and trees regrown.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Bodies lay covered in the street waiting to be transported by boat from Phi Phi Village to Phuket and Krabi on December 28, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Bodies lay covered in the street waiting to be transported by boat from Phi Phi Village to Phuket and Krabi on December 28, 2004.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
A construction worker walks where buildings are being erected on December 11, 2014, in Phi Phi Village, Ton Sai Bay, Thailand.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A construction worker walks where buildings are being erected on December 11, 2014, in Phi Phi Village, Ton Sai Bay, Thailand.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Rescue workers carry a body from among the debris on December 28, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Rescue workers carry a body from among the debris on December 28, 2004.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Now, the streets are busy with businesses and people.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Now, the streets are busy with businesses and people.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
An aerial shot taken on January 8, 2005, shows flooding and devastation to the west of Aceh in Banda Aceh. Aceh was the worst hit location, being the closest major city to the epicenter of the 9.1 magnitude quake.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
An aerial shot taken on January 8, 2005, shows flooding and devastation to the west of Aceh in Banda Aceh. Aceh was the worst hit location, being the closest major city to the epicenter of the 9.1 magnitude quake.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
A present-day aerial view of Banda Aceh shows great improvement.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A present-day aerial view of Banda Aceh shows great improvement.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
A general view of the devastation seen in Banda Aceh on December 28, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A general view of the devastation seen in Banda Aceh on December 28, 2004.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
Ten years later, Taman Safari Park in Indonesia has been cleared of debris.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Ten years later, Taman Safari Park in Indonesia has been cleared of debris.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Coastal flooding in western Aceh on January 8, 2005.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Coastal flooding in western Aceh on January 8, 2005.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
An aerial view of houses in Lampuuk, Banda Aceh, on December 11, 2014, shows the restoration of the coastline.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
An aerial view of houses in Lampuuk, Banda Aceh, on December 11, 2014, shows the restoration of the coastline.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Warning: Graphic images (multiple)
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A man looks for relatives amid bodies and debris in Banda Aceh on December 28, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A man looks for relatives amid bodies and debris in Banda Aceh on December 28, 2004.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
Ten years later, the debris has been cleared and people drive on Pembangunan Street.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Ten years later, the debris has been cleared and people drive on Pembangunan Street.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
A man covers his mouth as he walks amid bodies and debris in Banda Aceh on December 28, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A man covers his mouth as he walks amid bodies and debris in Banda Aceh on December 28, 2004.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
People drive along W.R. Supratman Street 10 years after the tsunami.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
People drive along W.R. Supratman Street 10 years after the tsunami.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Locals in Banda Aceh walk with their faces covered as they pass bodies and debris on December 28, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Locals in Banda Aceh walk with their faces covered as they pass bodies and debris on December 28, 2004.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
People drive along Panglima Polim Street 10 years later.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
People drive along Panglima Polim Street 10 years later.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
An automated bank teller machine rests submerged in the pool of the Holiday Inn on December 27, 2004, in Patong Beach, Thailand.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
An automated bank teller machine rests submerged in the pool of the Holiday Inn on December 27, 2004, in Patong Beach, Thailand.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Children play in the renewed pool at the Holiday Inn Phuket Resort and Hotel on December 10, 2014.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Children play in the renewed pool at the Holiday Inn Phuket Resort and Hotel on December 10, 2014.
Taylor Weidman/Getty Images
A Thai woman looks at the damage in a hotel in Phuket on December 27, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A Thai woman looks at the damage in a hotel in Phuket on December 27, 2004.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Tourists get massages near the beach in Phuket on December 10, 2014.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Tourists get massages near the beach in Phuket on December 10, 2014.
Taylor Weidman/Getty Images
Shops, restaurants and bungalows reduced to rubble in Ton Sai Bay on December 28, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Shops, restaurants and bungalows reduced to rubble in Ton Sai Bay on December 28, 2004.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
A view of the same area in Ton Sai Bay shows new buildings and trees.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A view of the same area in Ton Sai Bay shows new buildings and trees.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
A Thai woman walks by the devastation at a hotel along Patong Beach on December 27, 2004, in Phuket.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A Thai woman walks by the devastation at a hotel along Patong Beach on December 27, 2004, in Phuket.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
A tourist relaxes at a resort in Patong Beach 10 years after the tsunami hit.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A tourist relaxes at a resort in Patong Beach 10 years after the tsunami hit.
Taylor Weidman/Getty Images
People walk through the streets of tsunami-damaged Phi Phi Village on January 25, 2005, almost one month after the tsunami hit Ton Sai Bay.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
People walk through the streets of tsunami-damaged Phi Phi Village on January 25, 2005, almost one month after the tsunami hit Ton Sai Bay.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
A decade later, people walk between stores in Phi Phi Village.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A decade later, people walk between stores in Phi Phi Village.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Devastation surrounds the Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh on December 28, 2004.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Devastation surrounds the Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh on December 28, 2004.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
People gather near the Grand Mosque a decade after the tsunami.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
People gather near the Grand Mosque a decade after the tsunami.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
A view of the destruction at the Wannaburee Resort on December 30, 2004, in Khao Lak, Thailand.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A view of the destruction at the Wannaburee Resort on December 30, 2004, in Khao Lak, Thailand.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Plants grow at the rebuilt Wannaburee Resort in Khao Lak.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Plants grow at the rebuilt Wannaburee Resort in Khao Lak.
Taylor Weidman/Getty Images
A helicopter lands with emergency supplies on December 28, 2004, in Phi Phi Village.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A helicopter lands with emergency supplies on December 28, 2004, in Phi Phi Village.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Construction continues today in Phi Phi Village.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Construction continues today in Phi Phi Village.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Debris and collapsed buildings are seen on December 29, 2004, at the Theptharo Resort in Khao Lak, where many tourists died when their bungalows were swept away by the tsunami.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Debris and collapsed buildings are seen on December 29, 2004, at the Theptharo Resort in Khao Lak, where many tourists died when their bungalows were swept away by the tsunami.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Trees stand devastated by the tsunami 10 years ago. The Theptharo Resort has not been rebuilt and rubble is still strewn throughout the new forest growth.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Trees stand devastated by the tsunami 10 years ago. The Theptharo Resort has not been rebuilt and rubble is still strewn throughout the new forest growth.
Taylor Weidman/Getty Images
Members of the Indonesian military unload corpses to be buried on January 9, 2005, in Banda Aceh.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Members of the Indonesian military unload corpses to be buried on January 9, 2005, in Banda Aceh.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
A man walks at the mass gravesite 10 years later.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A man walks at the mass gravesite 10 years later.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
People walk among the debris of their ruined neighborhood on January 4, 2005, in Banda Aceh.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
People walk among the debris of their ruined neighborhood on January 4, 2005, in Banda Aceh.
Dimas Ardian/Getty Images
While the road has been restored, a washed-up boat still rests upon a building 10 years later.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
While the road has been restored, a washed-up boat still rests upon a building 10 years later.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
A Thai rescue worker looks at the destruction of hotels and shops on December 28, 2004, in Phi Phi Village.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
A Thai rescue worker looks at the destruction of hotels and shops on December 28, 2004, in Phi Phi Village.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Construction continues today in the Phi Phi Village.
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami —
Construction continues today in the Phi Phi Village.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
10 years since Indian Ocean tsunami
CNN  — 

Here is a look at tsunamis.

Tsunamis are formed by a displacement of water - a landslide, earthquake, volcanic eruption, or slippage of the boundary between two of the earth’s tectonic plates - slabs of rock 50 to 650 feet (15 to 200 meters) thick that carry the Earth’s continents and seas on an underground ocean of much hotter, semi-solid material.

Tsunamis can travel more than 500 mph (800 k/ph) at the deepest point of the water, but slow as they near the shore, eventually hitting the shore at 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 k/ph). The energy of the wave’s speed is transferred to height and sheer force as it nears shore.

Major or Notable Tsunamis

November 1, 1755 - An estimated 60,000 people are killed when an earthquake strikes Lisbon, Portugal, and causes a tsunami.

August 27, 1883 - An estimated 36,000 people are killed when the Krakatau volcano erupts, causing a tsunami in the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra.

June 15, 1896 - An estimated 28,000 people are killed when an 8.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Sanriku, Japan, causing a tsunami.

December 28, 1908 - An estimated 70,000-100,000 people are killed when a 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes Messina, Italy, and causes a tsunami in the Straights of Messina.

May 22, 1960 - An estimated 1,500 people are killed when a magnitude 9.5 earthquake strikes Chile and causes a tsunami.

March 28, 1964 - An estimated 128 people are killed when a magnitude 9.2 earthquake strikes Prince William Sound, Alaska, and causes a tsunami.

August 16, 1976 - An estimated 4,000-8,000 people are killed when an 8.0-magnitude earthquake strikes the Philippines and causes a tsunami.

July 17, 1998 - An estimated 2,200 people are killed when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea and causes a tsunami.

December 26, 2004 - An estimated 227,898 people are killed when a 9.1-magnitude earthquake strikes near Sumatra, Indonesia, and causes a subsequent tsunami in 14 countries in South Asia and East Africa.

October 25, 2010 - An estimated 449 people are killed when a magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes Indonesia and causes a tsunami.

March 11, 2011 - A 9.1-magnitude earthquake takes place 231 miles northeast of Tokyo. The earthquake causes a tsunami with 30 ft waves that damage several nuclear reactors in the area. The combined total of confirmed deaths and missing is more than 22,000 (nearly 20,000 deaths and 2,500 missing). (Source: Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency)

September 28, 2018 - More than 4,140 people are killed when a 7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and causes a tsunami.

December 22, 2018 - A tsunami with waves as high as three meters hits Pandeglang, Serang and South Lampung, Indonesia, leaving more than 437 people dead, 16 missing and 16,198 displaced. Officials believe the tsunami was caused by a series of underwater landslides triggered by a volcanic eruption.

Related