How many people were killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami?

The figure of approximately 255,000 deaths from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami is supported by extensive research and documentation from various humanitarian organizations and government agencies involved in the disaster response. The tsunami, triggered by a massive undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 26, 2004, caused widespread devastation across several countries, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.

The mortality figures vary slightly among different sources due to the chaotic nature of the disaster response and the challenges of counting casualties in the weeks and months following the event. However, the consensus estimate aligns closely with the figure of around 255,000. This tragic event remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, highlighting the importance of accurate data in understanding the impact of such calamities and improving preparedness for future occurrences.

The other figures, while plausible, do not reflect the consensus from the majority of significant studies conducted after the tsunami, emphasizing the critical nature of basing conclusions on comprehensive analyses and reliable sources in disaster statistics.