Episode 391: At dawn on December 26, 2004, a massive undersea earthquake off Sumatra’s west coast — one of the strongest ever recorded — triggered a devastating tsunami across the Indian Ocean. Waves up to 30 metres high struck Aceh Province within minutes, then swept across Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, and as far as East Africa. Entire communities vanished, and more than 227,000 people in fourteen countries were killed, making it the deadliest tsunami in recorded history.

At least fifteen Canadians lost their lives, and six more were reported missing, most while vacationing in Thailand and Sri Lanka. Survivors described the frantic searches for loved ones and the painful process of identifying and bringing home those who perished.

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami - Wikipedia
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami: Facts and FAQs
Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 | Britannica
South Asia: Earthquake and Tsunami - Dec 2004 | ReliefWeb
The Night the Earth Shook
Tsunami - Indian Ocean Boxing Day Tsunami, 2004 | Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub
The Indian Ocean Boxing Day Tsunami, 20 years on
Twenty years on: the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami - British Geological Survey
NOAA Center for Tsunami Research - Tsunami Event - December 26, 2004 The Indian Ocean Tsunami
Recovery Collection: 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami
What are the biggest tsunamis ever? How July 29 earthquake, tsunami compares.
How a 1,000‑year‑old tsunami in the Indian Ocean points to greater risk than originally thought
Tsunami Eyewitness & Survivors Project
List of tsunamis
ZORIAH - A PHOTOJOURNALIST AND WAR PHOTOGRAPHER’S BLOG: Asian Tsunami Anniversary - Thailand Tsunami Then and Now Comparison Series
Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake - IRIS Special Report
Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake - Wikipedia
List of natural disasters by death toll - Wikipedia
Tsunami Generation from the 2004 M=9.1 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake
Lisa Borg
The Devastating 2004 Tsunami: Timeline
11 Facts About the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami | DoSomething.org
CNN.com - Tsunami tragedy: Your e-mails - Jan 3, 2005
John Knill and Jackie Knill
Camera holds instant of tsunami impact
Tsunami photos show couple's final moments | CBC News
Discovery of tsunami camera brings closure
Camera shows 'last words' of tsunami victims
School built in memory of B.C. tsunami victims | CBC News

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Canadian Connections: The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami