Earthquake in the Indian Ocean Causes a Massive Tsunami
News story originally written on January 5, 2005

On the morning of December 26th, 2004, an enormous earthquake happened below the Indian Ocean. The earthquake caused the seawater above to be pushed up. This formed huge tsunami waves that spread across the ocean.

The enormous waves moved quickly across the ocean before they hit land. When the waves hit the land, they destroyed towns, beaches and trees along the coast. Over 150,000 people were killed as the tsunami waves hit the coasts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, and the east coast of Africa. There was very little time to warn people about the danger.

Tilly Smith, a 10-year-old girl from England used her knowledge about tsunamis to save 100 people during the event. Tilly learned about tsunamis at school. Her family was vacationing in Thailand when she saw the seawater drawing out quickly from the shore. She remembered that this could happen before a tsunami wave hits the coast. Thanks to Tilly, her mother, and the hotel staff, everyone was cleared off the beach before the wave arrived.

Last modified May 21, 2008 by Lisa Gardiner.

You might also be interested in:

Science, Evolution, and Creationism

How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable....more

How Tsunamis Form

A tsunami is several large waves made in an ocean or other body of water by a disturbance. The disturbance could be from an earthquake, landslide, volcano, or meteorite. The picture at the left shows how...more

Earthquake in the Indian Ocean Causes a Massive Tsunami

On the morning of December 26th, 2004, an enormous earthquake happened below the Indian Ocean. The earthquake caused the seawater above to be pushed up. This formed huge tsunami waves that spread across...more

The 2005 Hurricane Season Is Churning the Atlantic

The hurricane season in the North Atlantic is particularly strong this year. And scientists predict that the storms will be getting stronger because of global warming. Follow the links below to find out...more

1998--The Year in Review...

1998 was a very full year when it came to space exploration and history making. In the blast-from-the-past department, John Glenn received another go for a launch aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. After...more

Windows Team Discovers Twelve Stars!

Windows Scientists found twelve new stars! No, not really! But they did create twelve new pages about some of the brightest stars in the night sky. Some of the constellations are Leo, Ursa Major and Virgo....more

A Letter Home from Mir

The following is Andy Thomas's last letter to those on Earth. The subject -- a view from space...As I have orbited around the Earth, I have spoken to many amateur radio operators as well as television...more

Memorial Service for Alan Shepard August 1st.

A memorial service in honor of Alan Shepard is scheduled for August 1st in Houston, Texas. Shepard died Tuesday, July 21, at the age of 74. Shepard was the first American to fly in space, and the fifth...more

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA