5 Worst Tsunamis in History

Tsunamis have taken countless lives and cost billions of dollars in damage. And some of the worst have happened in the last few decades.

By Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi
Jun 6, 2023 6:00 PM
Tsunami Hazard Zone warning sign on ocean coast
(Credit:Michael Vi/Shutterstock)

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Most people were unprepared when the 2004 tsunami hit South Asia. Tsunamis weren't as common in the Indian Ocean as in the Pacific, and there wasn't a warning system in place.

Tsunamis have long devastated coastal areas and continue to be a threat in many parts of the world. Two of the most devastating tsunamis have occurred in the last two decades. Here are five of the worst tsunamis in history.

Worst Tsunamis in History

1. Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

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