The tsunami that struck Thailand on December 26, 2004, was caused by a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 to 9.3 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was located off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake was caused by the Indian and Australian tectonic plates moving against each other, resulting in a large-scale displacement of water. This displacement created a series of massive waves that traveled at high speeds across the Indian Ocean, eventual