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2004 Indian Ocean tsunami Trivia Questions

How much do you really know about 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami? Below are 8 true or false statements. Click each one to reveal the answer and explanation.

1.

No tsunami warning system existed in the Indian Ocean before 2004.

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Easy
✓ TRUE

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

2.

The tsunami was caused by a volcanic eruption, not an earthquake.

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Easy
✗ FALSE

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

3.

The tsunami reached speeds of up to 500 miles per hour in the open ocean.

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Medium
✓ TRUE

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

4.

The tsunami wave was over 100 feet tall when it hit Banda Aceh.

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Medium
✓ TRUE

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

5.

Animals like elephants and dogs sensed the tsunami and fled to higher ground beforehand.

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Medium
✗ FALSE

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

6.

The tsunami killed more people in Somalia than in Sri Lanka.

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Hard
✗ FALSE

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

7.

The tsunami wave circled the globe multiple times.

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Hard
✗ FALSE

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

8.

The earthquake that caused the tsunami lasted nearly 10 minutes.

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Hard
✓ TRUE

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

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