On December 26th, 2004 a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean sets off a tsunami that, within minutes, arrives in the bustling city of Aceh, causing unprecedented havoc and devastation. This four-part documentary follows the desperate struggle to survive of city-dwellers in Indonesia and tourists in Thailand caught in the unfolding catastrophe, as well as the scientists working against the clock to warn the world. Discover the power of the human spirit through stories of hope, hardship, and he

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,

December 26, 2004 M9.1 Earthquake & Indian Ocean Tsunami In the early morning hours of December 26, 2004, the Earth unleashed one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. A massive M9.1 megathrust rupture off the coast of Sumatra violently displaced the seafloor, sending walls of water racing across the Indian Ocean. Within minutes, coastlines were swallowed. Entire communities vanished. Waves traveled thousands of kilometers, striking country after country with almost no warning. By the

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