Indian Ocean countries unprepared for ten metre "walls of water" that wiped out coastal communities following Asia earthquake

Early on the morning of 26 December an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter Scale struck South Asia off the north west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The quake was the largest in magnitude since 1964, triggering tidal waves that caused thousands of fatalities and immense destruction in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Even Somalia experienced waves that stretched across the Indian Ocean, drowning at least three people. The death toll is expected to reach over 15,000 across the region.