On December 26th, 2004 a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean sets off a tsunami that, within minutes, arrives in the bustling city of Aceh, causing unprecedented havoc and devastation. This four-part documentary follows the desperate struggle to survive of city-dwellers in Indonesia and tourists in Thailand caught in the unfolding catastrophe, as well as the scientists working against the clock to warn the world. Discover the power of the human spirit through stories of hope, hardship, and he

In 2004, a large earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered the largest tsunami in recorded history. One of the countries hit by the tsunami was Sri Lanka, where the wave caused one of the worst train disasters in human history when it hit the Queen of the Sea passenger line, which was carrying 1,500 passengers along Sri Lanka's west coast. Watch Destruction Decoded on Wednesdays at 8pm on National Geographic UK. | National Geographic UK

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, one of the deadliest disasters in recent history, claimed more than 220,000 lives across 14 countries. Tsunamis are unpredictable and can arrive within minutes or hours, impacting multiple ocean basins. In response, UNESCO has developed a global early warning system relying on a dense network of sensors, tide gauges, and regional warning centers. This system is based on an alert chain combining scientific expertise, international coordination, and the rapid respons