<Tr> <Th> Casualties </Th> <Td> 227,898 dead </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake occurred at 00: 58: 53 UTC on 26 December, with an epicentre off the west coast of northern Sumatra and a magnitude of 9.1--9.3 M, reaching a Mercalli intensity up to IX in certain areas . It was an undersea megathrust earthquake caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burma Plate and the Indian Plate . </P> <P> A series of large tsunamis up to 30 metres (100 ft) high were created by the earthquake that became known collectively as the Boxing Day tsunamis . These tsunamis flooded communities along the coasts of the Indian Ocean and killed an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries; the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh reported the largest number of victims . The earthquake was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history and the deadliest of the 21st century . Indonesia was the hardest - hit country, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand . </P> <P> The earthquake was the third largest ever recorded and had the longest duration of faulting ever observed; between eight and ten minutes . It caused the planet to vibrate as much as 1 centimetre (0.4 inches), and it remotely triggered earthquakes as far away as Alaska . Its epicentre was between Simeulue and mainland Sumatra . The plight of the affected people and countries prompted a worldwide humanitarian response, donating more than US $14 billion . The event is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra--Andaman earthquake . </P>

Where was worst hit by boxing day tsunami