On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis that killed more than 230,000 people in fourteen countries, including Indonesia.
In the days and weeks leading up to the tsunami, Indonesian authorities took a number of steps to warn and protect the population. They issued tsunami warnings, closed ports and airports, and evacuated coastal areas. Unfortunately, the tsunami struck before many people could …