On December 26, 2004, a devastating tsunami struck the coasts of Sumatra and Aceh in Indonesia, killing more than 230,000 people. The tsunami was caused by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake—the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the region.
The earthquake struck at 7:58 a.m. local time and generated a tsunami that reached up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. The tsunami inundated coastal towns and villages, destroying homes, businesses, and infrastructure. In the town of Banda Aceh, the capital …