The Indian Ocean earthquake of 2004 was a tectonic event of enormous magnitude, originating off the coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Registering between 9.1 and 9.3 Mw, it was one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. The massive undersea quake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis, which reached heights of up to 30 meters in some areas. Countries bordering the Indian Ocean faced catastrophic impacts, particularly across coastal regions in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and several other nations. The tsunamis travelled vast distances, affecting parts of the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, showing the far-reaching repercussions of natural disasters in maritime regions.

In addition to the direct destruction caused, the event unleashed a humanitarian crisis that required extensive international response efforts. The regions affected faced the monumental task of recovering from widespread debris, loss of infrastructure, and grief from the loss of life. Over 227,000 lives were lost in several affected nations, with countless more individuals injured or displaced from their homes. Emergency and rescue operations were complex, as many coastal regions were entirely obliterated in the wake of the tsunamis.

In the aftermath, there was a significant focus on improving early warning systems for tsunamis and earthquakes globally. Countries affected began to develop disaster preparedness frameworks to minimize the risks posed by such seismic events, focusing on community resilience and rapid response strategies. The Indian Ocean tsunami remains a pivotal event in the discourse around disaster preparedness and response.