2004 Indian Ocean tsunami Trivia Questions

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

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

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

Inundation heights reached up to 100 feet (30 meters) in parts of Indonesia, with run-up exceeding 160 feet locally.

While anecdotal reports exist, scientific evidence is inconclusive. Many animals died, and this myth is often exaggerated.

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

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

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