On December 10, 2004, a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggering a massive tsunami that affected several countries in the Indian Ocean region. The disaster caused the deaths of over 230,000 people, making it one of the deadliest natural events in history. Coastal areas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India were particularly devastated by the waves. Thousands of villages were wiped out, and millions were displaced. The international community mobilized for humanitarian aid, and the event led to improved tsunami detection and early-warning systems.