Strongest earthquake in 40 years hits Southeast Asia

December 26, 2004 

Indian Ocean - The death toll continues to grow and millions face a homeless life in the new year as coastal communities in south Asia struggle against continued aftershocks and flooding caused by the largest earthquake to strike the planet in more than a generation. 
The magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake struck off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on December 26, 2004, at 00:58:50 UTC (or 07:58:50 local time in Jakarta and Bangkok). 
The earthquake was the strongest in the world since the 9.2-magnitude Good Friday Earthquake which struck Alaska, USA in 1964, and the fourth largest since 1900. More than 140,000 deaths were caused by resulting tsunami, which in Thailand were up to 10 meters (33 feet) tall, and struck within three hours of the initial event.
Strongest earthquake in 40 years hits Southeast Asia December 26 , 2004 Indian Ocean - The death toll continues to grow and millions face a homeless life in the new year as coastal communities in south Asia struggle against continued aftershocks and flooding caused by the largest earthquake to strike the planet in more than a generation . The magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake struck off the western coast of Sumatra , Indonesia on December 26 , 2004 , at 00:58:50 UTC ( or 07:58:50 local time in Jakarta and Bangkok ) . The earthquake was the strongest in the world since the 9.2 - magnitude Good Friday Earthquake which struck Alaska , USA in 1964 , and the fourth largest since 1900 . More than 140,000 deaths were caused by resulting tsunami , which in Thailand were up to 10 meters ( 33 feet ) tall , and struck within three hours of the initial event .
Strongest earthquake
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40 years
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Southeast Asia
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Indian Ocean
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The death toll
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millions
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a homeless life
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the new year
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coastal communities
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south Asia
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continued aftershocks
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flooding
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the largest earthquake
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the planet
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a generation
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The magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake
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the western coast
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Sumatra
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December 26, 2004
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00:58:50 UTC
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07:58:50 local time
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Jakarta
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Bangkok
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The earthquake
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the world
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the 9.2-magnitude Good Friday Earthquake
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Alaska
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USA
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More than 140,000 deaths
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tsunami
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Thailand
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up to 10 meters
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33 feet
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three hours
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the initial event
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Indonesia
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1964
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