2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami - Death Toll and Casualties

Death Toll and Casualties

According to the U.S. Geological Survey a total of 227,898 people died (see table below for details). Measured in lives lost, this is one of the ten worst earthquakes in recorded history, as well as the single worst tsunami in history. Indonesia was the worst affected area, with most death toll estimates at around 170,000. However, another report by health minister Fadilah Supari has estimated the death total to be as high as 220,000 in Indonesia alone, giving a total of 280,000 casualties.

The tsunami caused serious damage and deaths as far as the east coast of Africa, with the farthest recorded death due to the tsunami occurring at Rooi Els in South Africa, 8,000 km (5,000 mi) away from the epicentre. In total, eight people in South Africa died due to abnormally high sea levels and waves.

Relief agencies report that one-third of the dead appear to be children. This is a result of the high proportion of children in the populations of many of the affected regions and because children were the least able to resist being overcome by the surging waters. Oxfam went on to report that as many as four times more women than men were killed in some regions because they were waiting on the beach for the fishermen to return and looking after their children in the houses.

In an addition to the large number of local residents, up to 9,000 foreign tourists (mostly Europeans) enjoying the peak holiday travel season were among the dead or missing, especially people from the Nordic countries. The European nation hardest hit may have been Sweden, whose death toll was 543.

States of emergency were declared in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Maldives. The United Nations estimated at the outset that the relief operation would be the costliest in human history. Then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated that reconstruction would probably take between five and ten years. Governments and non-governmental organisations feared that the final death toll might double as a result of diseases, prompting a massive humanitarian response. In the end, this fear did not materialise.

For purposes of establishing timelines of local events, the time zones of affected areas are: UTC+3: (Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia, Tanzania); UTC+4: (Mauritius, Réunion, Seychelles); UTC+5: (Maldives); UTC+5:30: (India, Sri Lanka); UTC+6: (Bangladesh); UTC+6:30: (Cocos Islands, Myanmar); UTC+7: (Indonesia (western), Thailand); UTC+8: (Malaysia, Singapore). Since the earthquake occurred at 00:58:53 UTC, add the above offsets to find the local time of the earthquake.

Country where
deaths occurred
Confirmed Estimated1 Injured Missing Displaced
Indonesia 7005130736000000000130,736 7005167799000000000167,799 n/a 700437063000000000037,063 7005500000000000000500,000+
Sri Lanka2 700435322000000000035,322 700435322000000000035,322 700421411000000000021,411 n/a 7005516150000000000516,150
India 700412405000000000012,405 700418045000000000018,045 n/a 70035640000000000005,640 7005647599000000000647,599
Thailand 70035395000000000005,3953 70038212000000000008,212 70038457000000000008,457 70032817000000000002,817 70037000000000000007,000
Somalia 700178000000000000078 7002289000000000000289 n/a n/a 70035000000000000005,000
Myanmar (Burma) 700161000000000000061 7002400000000000000400–600 700145000000000000045 7002200000000000000200 70033200000000000003,200
Maldives 700182000000000000082 7002108000000000000108 n/a 700126000000000000026 700415000000000000015,000+
Malaysia 700168000000000000068 700175000000000000075 7002299000000000000299 70006000000000000006 n/a
Tanzania 700110000000000000010 700113000000000000013 n/a n/a n/a
Seychelles 70003000000000000003 70003000000000000003 700157000000000000057 n/a 7002200000000000000200
Bangladesh 70002000000000000002 70002000000000000002 n/a n/a n/a
South Africa 700020000000000000024 70002000000000000002 n/a n/a n/a
Yemen 70002000000000000002 70002000000000000002 n/a n/a n/a
Kenya 70001000000000000001 70001000000000000001 70002000000000000002 n/a n/a
Madagascar n/a n/a n/a n/a 70031000000000000001,000+
Total ~184,167 ~230,273 ~125,000 ~45,752 ~1.69 million

Note: All figures are approximate and subject to change. The first column links to more details on specific countries.
1 Includes those reported under 'Confirmed'. If no separate estimates are available, the number in this column is the same as reported under 'Confirmed'.
2 Does not include approximately 19,000 missing people initially declared by Tamil Tiger authorities from regions under their control.
3 Data includes at least 2,464 foreigners.
4 Does not include South African citizens who died outside of South Africa (e.g., tourists in Thailand). For more information on those deaths, see this


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