On December 20, 2004, the Indian Ocean region was devastated by a powerful earthquake that led to a massive tsunami. Over 230,000 people across several countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India, were killed by the giant waves. The earthquake, measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale, triggered the deadliest tsunami in history. The affected countries struggled with relief efforts, as entire communities were destroyed, and infrastructure was devastated. The disaster brought global attention to the vulnerability of coastal regions and led to significant changes in tsunami warning systems.