The December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean undersea earthquake, which caused a devastating tsunami, was considered the deadliest natural disaster in modern history. Massive waves devastated the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries. The shift of masses and the huge amount of released energy led to a change in the speed of rotation of the Earth. According to various estimates, from 225 thousand to 300 thousand people died.
The hypocenter (focus) of the tremors was 30 kilometers down from sea level. And the epicenter is only 160 km from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It was moved by an earthquake by 36 meters, and this is a large figure if we are talking about the structure of the planet.
The magnitude, according to various estimates, reached 9.1-9.3 points on the Richter scale. This is not a record, this is only the third result in history. But the leading disasters did not occur in the most densely populated areas of the planet - Chile (1960, 9.5 points, 6 thousand dead) and Alaska (1964, 9.2 points, 131 victims).
227,898 – this is how the number of victims of the 2004 tragedy will remain in history. This figure is official, but very approximate. This is just the number of bodies found. There are tens of thousands of missing people.
But 12 years ago, tragedy happened in the most populated part of the Earth. The tsunami caused destruction even in South Africa - 7,000 km from the epicenter, and minor fluctuations were felt on the opposite side of the planet - in Oklahoma.
It was impossible to see the future tsunami near the epicenter of the wave. A small bump on the water surface 60 centimeters high would not have been “detected” by any sensors, even though it was moving at a speed of 1000 km/h.
Closer to the shore, in shallow water, the wave became slower. And tens, or even hundreds of times higher.
Several tourists managed to capture the first shots of the wave's arrival.
The tsunami warning system that was absent in those years led to the fact that they did not know about the approaching wave even in those regions where it took several hours to reach.
In many places the waves traveled 2 kilometers deep into the coast. But the city of Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra was the first to encounter the rogue wave. There the wave traveled 4 kilometers and claimed the lives of 130 thousand people. But the local mosque was spared.
And this city in northern Sumatra no longer exists.
The tsunami caused the worst train disaster in history. In Sri Lanka, waves 9 meters high hit a crowded passenger train traveling on the coastal railway. At the departure point - Colombo - 1,500 passengers boarded. At the following stations, stowaways also boarded. The official death toll is estimated at 2,000 people. A third of them are children. Only 150 survived.
Interestingly, an experienced driver managed to take the train deeper into the island after the first wave hit, but the second wave left no chance for anyone... Two carriages were washed into the ocean - they were never found. The train did not reach its destination only 20 kilometers. More than two hours had passed since the earthquake.
A wave 2.5 meters high even reached Mexico. What can we say about the Maldives, where they urgently began to build dams, which did not help at all.
About a million people were left homeless. Outbreaks of cholera, typhus and dysentery began in the affected countries. The humanitarian disaster caused by the tsunami is believed to have claimed up to 300,000 lives in 2005.
The Indian Ocean earthquake was so powerful that it changed the shape of the planet and shortened the length of the day by 2.68 microseconds.
Physicists say that the total energy of the tsunami was twice as great as the energy of all the shells exploded during World War II. Including two atomic bombs.
Seismologists add that the energy of the earthquake itself would be enough to provide electricity to the entire planet for two years.
A few hours before the waves arrived (and how long before the earthquake itself), all the animals left the coastal areas of the countries that would be hit the hardest and moved to higher ground.
They raised $11 billion to help the entire world. 500 million was donated by Japan, which itself will become a victim of disaster 7 years later. Russian rescuers were on site within 24 hours. And already with humanitarian aid.
Most of the bodies could not be identified. Local authorities decided to bury them in mass graves.
Over the next month, about 500 more earthquakes occurred in the region. The most powerful is 7.1 points. They were all caused by the first one.
Three months after this disaster, 500 bodies were washed up on the Indian Ocean coast every day.
Scientists believe that such an earthquake with a comparable number of victims could occur no earlier than in 300 years.
Megatsunami in Lituya Bay, Alaska, USA - the most destructive wave in the world (its length is more than 500 meters). The disaster occurred in 1958 on July 9. It was the largest natural disaster known to science. A little later, scientists called the phenomenon a “megatsunami.”
Causes of the disaster
The giant wave was caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake off the Alaska Peninsula. The tremors triggered a huge landslide that dumped a massive glacier and piles of rock into Gilbert Bay. They became the main reason for the emergence of a giant wave.
Consequences of the disaster
Major casualties were avoided: ten fishermen were killed and vegetation along the coast was destroyed. Eyewitness accounts say that “the mountains were shaking terribly, the stones were rapidly rushing down, then suddenly they disappeared, and a giant wall of water appeared.”
Presumably, similar tsunamis have occurred here before, with an interval of several decades. The tsunamis that occurred were also quite high, but their effects were finally eliminated by a natural disaster in 1958.
Next megatsunami
The Lituya megatsunami was the first time in science that a giant wave was caused not only by an earthquake, but also by a landslide.
One of the strongest tsunamis was the aftermath of the Indian Ocean earthquake on December 26, 2004. This is the deadliest, natural disaster in modern history. The destructive wave dealt a huge blow to Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Somalia. The capital of the Maldives, Male, was very badly damaged during the tsunami. Certain areas of the city had to be rebuilt.
The death toll as a result of the natural disaster is estimated at 235 thousand people.
It is sad that many of the victims were tourists vacationing on the shores of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Which amazes with its power, strength and boundless energy. This element attracts the attention of researchers who are trying to understand the very nature of the occurrence of giant waves in order to prevent terrible consequences from the destructive power of water. This review will present a list of the largest tsunamis in scope that have occurred over the past 60 years.
Destructive wave in Alaska
The largest tsunamis in the world occur under the influence of various factors, but the most common cause of this phenomenon is earthquakes. It was the tremors that became the basis for the formation of a deadly wave back in 1964 in Alaska. Good Friday (March 27), one of the main Christian holidays, was overshadowed by an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2 points. The natural phenomenon had a direct impact on the ocean - waves 30 meters long and 8 meters high arose. The tsunami destroyed everything in its path: the West Coast of North America, as well as Haiti and Japan, were affected. On this day, about 120 people died, and the territory of Alaska decreased by 2.4 meters.
Samoa's deadly tsunami
The photo of the largest wave in the world (tsunami) invariably impresses and evokes the most contradictory feelings - this is both horror from realizing the scale of the disaster that followed, and a certain reverence for the forces of nature. In general, a lot of similar pictures have appeared on news resources in recent years. They depict the terrible consequences of a natural disaster that took place in Samoa. According to reliable data, about 198 local residents died during the disaster, most of whom were children.
The magnitude 8.1 earthquake caused the world's largest tsunami. Photos of the consequences can be seen in the review. The maximum wave height reached 13.7 meters. The water destroyed several villages as it moved 1.6 km inland. Subsequently, after this tragic event, the situation in the region began to be monitored, which made it possible to evacuate people in a timely manner.
Hokkaido Island, Japan
The rating “The biggest tsunami in the world” cannot be imagined without an incident that occurred in Japan in 1993. The root cause of the formation of giant waves is an earthquake, which was localized 129 km from the coast. The authorities announced the evacuation of people, but it was not possible to avoid casualties. The height of the largest tsunami in the world, which occurred in Japan, was 30 meters. Special barriers were not enough to stop the powerful flow, so the small island of Okusuri was completely submerged in water. On this day, about 200 people out of 250 inhabitants who inhabited the city died.
City of Tumaco: the horror of a December morning
1979, December 12 - one of the most tragic days in the lives of people inhabiting the Pacific coast. It was on this morning at about 8:00 that an earthquake occurred with a magnitude of 8.9. But this was not the most serious shock that awaited people. After this, a whole series of tsunamis hit small villages and cities, sweeping away everything in its path. Within a few hours of the disaster, 259 people died, more than 750 were seriously injured, and 95 residents were declared missing. Below is a photo of the largest wave in the world. The tsunami in Tumaco cannot leave anyone indifferent.
Indonesian tsunami
5th place in the list of “The largest tsunamis in the world” is occupied by a wave 7 meters high, but stretching for 160 km. The Pangadarian resort area disappeared from the face of the earth along with the people who inhabited the area. In July 2006, 668 residents died and more than 9,000 sought help from medical institutions. About 70 people were declared missing.
Papua New Guinea: tsunami for humanity
The largest tsunami wave in the world, despite the severity of all the consequences, became an opportunity for scientists to advance in studying the underlying causes of this natural phenomenon. In particular, the primary role of strong underwater landslides, which contribute to water fluctuations, was identified.
In July 1998, an earthquake occurred with a magnitude of 7 points. Despite the seismic activity, scientists were unable to predict the tsunami, which caused numerous casualties. More than 2,000 residents died under the pressure of 15- and 10-meter waves, more than 10 thousand people lost their shelter and livelihood, 500 people disappeared.
Philippines: no chance of salvation
If you ask experts what is the largest tsunami in the world, they will unanimously name the wave of 1976. During this period, seismic activity was recorded near the island of Mindanao; at the source, the strength of the tremors reached 7.9 points. The earthquake created a wave of enormous scale that covered 700 km of the Philippine coast. The tsunami reached a height of 4.5 m. Residents did not have time to evacuate, which led to numerous casualties. More than 5 thousand died, 2,200 people were declared missing, and about 9,500 local residents were injured. In total, 90 thousand people suffered from the tsunami and lost their homes.
Pacific Death
The year 1960 is marked red in history. This comes as 6,000 people died due to a magnitude 9.5 earthquake at the end of May this year. It was seismic tremors that contributed to the eruption of the volcano and the formation of a colossal wave that swept away everything in its path. The height of the tsunami reached 25 meters, which in 1960 was a true record.
Tsunami in Tohuku: nuclear disaster
Japan faced this again, but the consequences were even worse than in 1993. A powerful wave, which reached 30 meters, hit Ofunato, a Japanese city. As a result of the disaster, more than 125 thousand buildings were taken out of service, and serious damage was caused to the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant. The nuclear disaster was one of the most serious in recent years throughout the world. There is still no reliable information about the true damage caused to the environment. However, there is an opinion that the radiation spread over 320 km.
Tsunami in India is a threat to all humanity!
The natural disasters listed in the World's Biggest Tsunamis cannot compare to the event that occurred in December 2004. The wave hit several states that have access to the Indian Ocean. This is a real world war that required more than 14 billion dollars to correct the situation. According to reports presented after the tsunami, more than 240 thousand people living in various countries died: India, Indonesia, Thailand, etc.
The reason for the formation of a 30-meter wave is an earthquake. Its strength was 9.3 points. The water flow reached the coasts of some countries 15 minutes after the start of seismic activity, which did not give people a chance to escape death. Other states fell into the power of the elements after 7 hours, but despite such a delay, the population did not evacuate due to the lack of a warning system. Some people, oddly enough, were helped to escape by children who studied the signs of an impending disaster at school.
Tsunami in the fjord-shaped Gulf of Alaska
In the history of meteorological observations, a tsunami has been recorded, the height of which exceeds all conceivable and inconceivable records. In particular, scientists were able to record a wave with a height of 524 meters. A powerful stream of water rushed at a speed of 160 km/h. There was not a single living place left on the way: the trees were uprooted, the rocks were covered with cracks and breaks. La Gaussie Spit was wiped off the face of the Earth. Fortunately, there were few casualties. Only the death of the crew of one of the longboats, which at that moment was in a nearby bay, was recorded.
Such an incredible miracle of nature as a tsunami is shocking in its scope. It is powerful because it has colossal strength. It is not surprising why so many scientists in the world have been trying for decades to understand nature, the history of the formation of waves of gigantic height. They record what the largest tsunami in the world was, analyze and draw conclusions. What is the purpose of studying them? Understand and find ways to prevent the terrifying consequences that the power of water is capable of. There are many cases in history when people managed to escape from a tsunami. If you use this experience and add modern developments, you can certainly protect yourself from such a destructive element as a tsunami.
Ocean waves of enormous size (meaning tsunamis, the height of which reaches several meters) are capable of sweeping people, animals, and human creations out of their path: buildings, houses, cars, etc. There are many cases in history confirming this. The power of a tsunami is not just great, it is terrifying. People are frightened by the size of the wave, its height, and the speed of movement, the large distance between the waves (the crests can follow each other over tens of kilometers). A tsunami is a cataclysm that shocks with its natural features. If in open water the waves are not so huge (their height can reach a meter or two), then approaching the coast they literally grow in size, increase in strength and deliver such a crushing blow that nothing living remains on land. Nothing in the world can resist natural power: neither strong structures nor high barriers. History has recorded only isolated cases of tsunamis that did not kill people. In the news we hear about tsunamis, the height of which is measured at several meters, and the consequences of the disaster are irreparable.
Review of the largest tsunamis in the world
In an attempt to determine the world's largest tsunami, researchers who have dedicated their lives to studying tsunamis have compiled a list of devastating elements that cannot be forgotten. Interestingly, it is difficult for scientists to say what the largest tsunami in the world was, since there are no clear parameters for determining it. Here opinions are simply divided. Some may say that the largest tsunamis in the world, in history, were those that claimed a huge number of lives. And most researchers are inclined to think that the largest tsunamis in the world were those that were distinguished by the greatest power and speed. Often the height of a tsunami is taken as the main indicator.
The review presents the largest tsunamis in the world over the past sixty years (by year):
- 1958 Alaska. Deadly tsunami. The largest that took place in the first half of the 20th century. It happened in March, on the day when the Christian holiday (Good Friday) took place. Seismologists recorded an earthquake of 9.2 points. It was this that caused a tsunami 8 meters high and 30 meters long. More than 120 people were among the victims.
- 1964 Prince William Sound. The tsunami was caused by an earthquake whose strength reached 9.2. The power of the shock, which covered 800 thousand square meters. m., can be compared with the explosion of twelve thousand atomic bombs. Many settlements and the city of Veldez disappeared from the map. The northern coast of America suffered serious damage. The height of the tsunami was 67 m. Now you understand that we are talking about the largest (highest) tsunami in the world. The deadly wave killed 150 people. If the region had been more populated, there would have been an order of magnitude more casualties.
- 1976 Philippines. A tsunami caused by a powerful earthquake covered more than 700 kilometers of the Philippine coast with its wave. Was the wave high? No, only 4.5 meters. But this was enough to kill more than 5 thousand people, injure almost 10 thousand people, and deprive 90 thousand residents of housing and livelihoods. People had absolutely no chance of salvation. The numbers are shocking. Perhaps the Philippine tsunami was the largest tsunami in the world.
- 1979 Tumaco. The city, located on the Pacific coast, was destroyed by one of the largest tsunamis in the world in 1979. More precisely, it was a whole series of destructive waves. This happened in the last month of the year. Then the earthquake was strong (8.9 points). Result: 750 in need of medical attention, 259 dead, 95 missing - these are the results of the tsunami in Tumaco.
- 1993 Hokkaido. In 1993, this island was “attacked” by a tsunami, which was included in the ranking of the largest tsunamis in the world. The cause of the disaster was again an earthquake. More than 80% of the island's inhabitants (200 people) died, although everyone heard the announcement of an urgent evacuation. There was too little time at our disposal. Special barriers could not hold back waves 30 m high.
- 1998 Papua New Guinea. The largest tsunami waves in the world were here. Their height reached 15 meters. The disaster was caused by a 7-magnitude earthquake. The consequences of the tsunami were severe: 2,000 people died, 500 disappeared, 10,000 were left homeless. Why weren't people saved? Experts say that this is the fault of seismologists who failed to predict the scale and size of the tsunami.
- 2004 India. Perhaps this tsunami will definitely take pride of place on the list of the largest tsunamis in the world. The disaster has become a threat to all humanity. Many states that had access to the Indian Ocean felt the powerful blow of a 30-meter wave. More than 14 billion dollars had to be raised to correct the situation in the world. More than 240,000 people died (just imagine!). The victims of the disaster were mainly residents of Thailand, India, Indonesia and other countries. The amplitude of the earthquake reached 9.3 points. People who lived on the coast had only 15 minutes to save themselves.
- 2006 Indonesia. A 7 meter high tsunami destroyed Pangadarian (a famous resort), killing 668 people. The island of Java is deserted. Approximately 70 people remained missing, and about 9 thousand people required medical help. Was this the biggest tsunami? No one will answer for sure. But the fact that it caused irreparable damage remains an obvious fact.
- 2009 Samoa. The terrible tsunami was also caused by an earthquake, the amplitude of which reached 8.1 points. Researchers note that this tsunami was the largest tsunami in the world, as waves 13.7 m high caused crazy damage. Then 198 people died. What is very shocking is that the high waves took mostly children. Many villages found themselves under water in a matter of minutes. Today there is constant surveillance here, which allows for timely evacuation.
- 2011 Tohuku. We are talking about a nuclear disaster. Just imagine, a wave 30 m high hit Japan. It destroyed 125,000 buildings, but most importantly, it caused incredible damage to the Fukushima-1 (nuclear power plant), which caused radiation to spread over 320 kilometers.
As you can see for yourself, the consequences of the tsunami are difficult to describe in words.
The biggest tsunamis in the world may not be the most terrible and destructive. However, everywhere in the world people are dying, houses and important objects are being destroyed, and moored ships are being damaged.
It is known that animals and birds “know” about the impending tsunami. They feel energy waves (any weather-dependent person in the world can feel them). You may notice how animals begin to leave their homes. This can happen a few days before a disaster or a few hours before it. For example, in Japan, local residents keep aquarium catfish and, based on their restless behavior, determine the likelihood of a catastrophe. When a tsunami hits, catfish start jumping out of their tanks. It does not matter what the height of the element will be.
The occurrence of a tsunami can also be recorded using instruments. Take a look at seismologists (in their special world of seismology) they have special units for such cases. They can even predict when the collapse will occur and what the wave height will be.
If you see that the water has suddenly moved away from the shore, or an earthquake has occurred, or a meteorite has fallen into the water, expect a tsunami. Take valuables with you and climb the mountains, move away from the water. A distance of three to five kilometers from the ocean or sea is considered safe. In any case, it is important to remain calm. Panic can only do harm. What you definitely shouldn’t do is stay on the shore and wait for the beautiful but dangerous ones to swallow the coast. You should not return to the shore even after 4-5 hours, when the water level (height) subsides. Perhaps not all the waves have passed yet. If in peacetime everyone had these rules, there would be an order of magnitude fewer casualties.
Water flowing through natural streams and rivers, living in the seas, changes the topography of the earth, washing away loose rocks and removing debris. But there are also extremely painful conditions in which water becomes a real formidable weapon, killing and destroying everything in its path.
The most terrible destructive effect is caused by such rare and terrible attacks of water as huge tsunami waves that wash away everything from the surface of the earth. Such waves arise as a result of underwater earthquakes. Recently, the water element of the earth has increasingly been causing trouble for residents of coastal zones. Perhaps we humans are not treating our planet with due respect. We do not take into account the speed of flows and trajectories of movement, we build where it is not allowed, we destroy what is not supposed to be. We drain, flood, drive into concrete and change direction. Suffice it to recall the numerous man-made reservoirs, dams, hydroelectric power stations and many other things that people create, sometimes without calculating the consequences of their actions.
Alaska earthquake and tsunami, 1964
March 27, 1964 was Good Friday, but the Christian day of worship was interrupted by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake - the strongest ever recorded in North American history. Subsequent tsunamis wiped out the western North American coastline (also hitting Hawaii and Japan), killing 121 people. Waves of up to 30 meters were recorded and a 10 meter tsunami wiped out the tiny Alaskan village of Chenega. 
Samoa earthquake and tsunami, 2009
In 2009, the Samoan Islands experienced a magnitude 8.1 earthquake at 7:00 am on September 29th. Tsunamis up to 15 meters high followed, traveling miles inland, engulfing villages and causing widespread destruction. 189 people died, many of them children, but further loss of life was spared because the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center gave people time to evacuate to higher ground. 
1993 Hokkaido earthquake and tsunami
On July 12th, 1993, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred 80 miles off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan. Japanese authorities responded quickly, issuing a tsunami warning, but the small island of Okushiri was beyond the relief zone. Just minutes after the earthquake, the island was covered by giant waves - some of which reached 30 meters in height. 197 of the 250 tsunami victims were residents of Okushiri. Although some were saved by memories of the 1983 tsunami that hit the island 10 years earlier, forcing a rapid evacuation. 
1979 Tumaco earthquake and tsunami
At 8:00 am on December 12th, 1979, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake began near Colombia and the Pacific coast of Ecuador. The tsunami that followed destroyed six fishing villages and much of the city of Tumaco, as well as several other Colombian coastal towns. 259 people died, while 798 were injured and 95 were missing. 
2006 Java earthquake and tsunami
On July 17th, 2006, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook the seabed near Java. A 7 meter high tsunami slammed into the Indonesian coast, including 100 miles of coastline in Java, which was fortunately spared by the 2004 tsunami. The waves penetrated more than a mile inland, leveling communities and the seaside resort of Pangandaran. At least 668 people died, 65 died, and more than 9,000 required medical attention. 
1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake and tsunami
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck the northern coast of Papua New Guinea on July 17, 1998, without itself causing a large tsunami. However, the earthquake caused a large underwater landslide, which in turn produced waves 15 meters high. When the tsunami hit the coast, it caused at least 2,183 deaths, 500 missing people, and made approximately 10,000 residents homeless. Numerous villages were heavily damaged, while others, such as Arop and Varapu, were completely destroyed. The only positive thing was that it gave scientists valuable insight into the threat of underwater landslides and the unexpected tsunamis they can cause, which could save lives in the future. 
1976 Moro Bay earthquake and tsunami
In the early morning of August 16th, 1976, the small island of Mindanao in the Philippines was struck by an earthquake with a magnitude of at least 7.9. The earthquake caused a huge tsunami that crashed into 433 miles of coastline, where residents were unaware of the danger and did not have time to escape to higher ground. Overall, 5,000 people were killed and another 2,200 were missing, 9,500 were injured and more than 90,000 residents were left homeless. Cities and regions throughout the Northern Celebes Sea region of the Philippines were wiped out by the tsunami, which is considered among the worst natural disasters in the country's history. 
1960 Valdivia earthquake and tsunami
In 1960, the world experienced the strongest earthquake since such events began to be tracked. On May 22nd, the Great Chile Earthquake of 9.5 magnitude began off the south coast of central Chile, causing a volcanic eruption and a devastating tsunami. Waves reached 25 meters high in some areas, while a tsunami also swept across the Pacific Ocean, hitting Hawaii about 15 hours after the quake and killing 61 people. Seven hours later, waves hit the coast of Japan, causing 142 deaths. A total of 6,000 died. 
2011 Tohuku earthquake and tsunami
While all tsunamis are dangerous, the 2011 Tohuku Tsunami that hit Japan has some of the worst consequences. On March 11th, waves of 11 meters were recorded after the 9.0 earthquake, although some reports mention terrifying heights of up to 40 meters with waves traveling 6 miles inland, as well as a colossal 30 meter wave that crashed into the coastal town of Ofunato. Approximately 125,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and transport infrastructure suffered heavy damage. With approximately 25,000 people killed, the tsunami also damaged the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, causing an International Nuclear Disaster. The full consequences of this nuclear disaster are still unclear, but radiation was detected 200 miles from the plant. 
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
The world was stunned by the deadly tsunami that hit countries surrounding the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. The tsunami was the deadliest ever, with more than 230,000 casualties, affecting people in 14 countries, with the largest numbers affected in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. The powerful undersea earthquake had a magnitude of up to 9.3, and the deadly waves it caused reached 30 meters in height. Massive tsunamis inundated some coastlines within 15 minutes and some as much as 7 hours after the initial earthquake. Despite having time to prepare for the impact of waves in some places, the lack of a tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean meant that most coastal areas were caught by surprise. However, some places were saved thanks to local superstitions and even the knowledge of children who learned about the tsunami at school. 
In many places the waves traveled 2 kilometers deep into the coast. But the city of Banda Aceh in northern Sumatra was the first to encounter the rogue wave. There the wave traveled 4 kilometers and claimed the lives of 130 thousand people. But the local mosque was spared. And this city in northern Sumatra no longer exists. 
The tsunami caused the worst train disaster in history. In Sri Lanka, waves 9 meters high hit a crowded passenger train traveling on the coastal railway. At the departure point - Colombo - 1,500 passengers boarded. At the following stations, stowaways also boarded. The official death toll is estimated at 2,000 people. A third of them are children. Only 150 survived. 
Interestingly, an experienced driver managed to take the train deeper into the island after the first wave hit, but the second wave left no chance for anyone... Two carriages were washed into the ocean - they were never found. The train did not reach its destination only 20 kilometers. More than two hours had passed since the earthquake. 
About a million people were left homeless. Outbreaks of cholera, typhus and dysentery began in the affected countries. The humanitarian disaster caused by the tsunami is believed to have claimed up to 300,000 lives in 2005. 
The Indian Ocean earthquake was so powerful that it changed the shape of the planet and shortened the length of the day by 2.68 microseconds. 
Physicists say that the total energy of the tsunami was twice as great as the energy of all the shells exploded during World War II. Including two atomic bombs. Seismologists add that the energy of the earthquake itself would be enough to provide electricity to the entire planet for two years. A few hours before the arrival of the waves (and for how long before the earthquake itself), all animals left the coastal areas of the countries that would be hit the hardest and moved to higher ground . 
Three months after this disaster, 500 bodies of victims were washed up on the Indian Ocean coast every day. Scientists believe that such an earthquake with a comparable number of victims could happen no earlier than in 300 years. 
