2004 Indian Ocean tsunami Trivia Questions

It was triggered by a massive undersea megathrust earthquake off Sumatra, not a volcano, which is a common myth.

Unlike the Pacific, the Indian Ocean had no regional tsunami warning network, contributing to the high death toll.

Tsunami waves travel at jet-plane speeds in deep water, around 500 mph, slowing drastically only as they approach shallow coastlines.

The earthquake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra on December 26, 2004, with a magnitude between 9.1 and 9.3, making it one of the largest ever recorded. It generated the massive tsunami.

The earthquake's magnitude was 9.1–9.3, not 7.0. It was one of the most powerful ever recorded, causing the devastating tsunami.

Sri Lanka suffered over 35,000 deaths, while Somalia had fewer than 300. The hardest-hit country was Indonesia.

The 9.1 magnitude quake ruptured for about 8 to 10 minutes, one of the longest ever recorded, generating massive displacement.

Tsunami energy did propagate globally, but the wave itself didn't 'circle' like a distinct wall; it dissipated after crossing oceans once.