Precisely 20 years ago, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami struck Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, claiming the lives of 225,000 people. Young Martunis Sarbini managed to defy the odds and survive alone for 21 days. He was eventually found by cameraman Phil Hooper and his team—making Martunis the last survivor to be rescued. #TsunamiRaceAgainstTime is now streaming on Disney and Hulu. | National Geographic TV

Remembering the 2004 Phuket Tsunami: A Tragic Turning Point On December 26, 2004, a catastrophic tsunami struck Phuket, transforming the sunny island into a scene of devastation. Triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, the disaster claimed thousands of lives and left an indelible mark on Thailand and its people. Survivors recall the anguish of that fateful day, while memorials and events continue to honor the victims. Key sites include the Wall of Remembrance in Mai Khao, where multi-faith pray

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami ranks among the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. On December 26, 2004, a massive undersea earthquake measuring 9.1–9.3 struck off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake suddenly displaced the seafloor, sending colossal volumes of water surging across the Indian Ocean at speeds comparable to a jetliner. Within minutes to hours, these waves slammed into coastal communities in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and several other countries,

In 2004, a large earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered the largest tsunami in recorded history. One of the countries hit by the tsunami was Sri Lanka, where the wave caused one of the worst train disasters in human history when it hit the Queen of the Sea passenger line, which was carrying 1,500 passengers along Sri Lanka's west coast. Watch Destruction Decoded on Wednesdays at 8pm on National Geographic UK. | National Geographic UK