The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami was one of the worst natural disasters of modern history. It devastated coastal areas of 14 countries, killing more than 230,000 people and causing billions of dollars in damage. The massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered the tsunami, which swept over thousands of miles of coastline. The tsunami was caused by a section of the ocean floor that ruptured at a depth of 1200 km.
The Boxing Day Tsunami devastated coastal areas in eight countries, including the Maldives, causing immense hardships and disruptions. The Maldives are an atoll island nation in the Indian Ocean. The low-lying islands are prone to natural disasters, including tsunamis. Agriculture is a major industry on the islands. In many areas, the dead are not identified, making the deaths of many more unknown.