The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in history, occurred on December 26, 2004.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.1–9.3, was triggered by a megathrust event along the boundary of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The undersea quake displaced massive amounts of seawater, generating a series of tsunamis that devastated coastal regions across 14 countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, and even parts of Africa. Waves as high as 30 meters (100 feet) swept through these areas, resulting in an estimated 230,000–280,000 deaths and leaving over 1.7 million people homeless.
In response, MOR partnered with many local Australian brands to raise charity funds exceeding half a million dollars, contributing significantly to the international aid effort.
The disaster caused widespread destruction to infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems, prompting one of the largest humanitarian responses in history, with billions of dollars in global aid. It also underscored the critical need for disaster preparedness, leading to the establishment of a tsunami early warning system for the Indian Ocean region.
